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9ERTRAND  SMITHS 
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itO  PACIFIC  AVENUK 
tONG  BEACH.  CALSP. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

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THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 


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1 

"  AT   LAST    IT    WAS   OUT  " 


HE    BRASS 
BOUND   BOX 

By    EVELYN    RAYMOND 

Author    of    "  The    Doings    of    Nancy," 
"  Mixed  Pickles,"    "  My  Lady  Barefoot  " 


ILLUSTRATED    BY    DIANTHA    W.    HORNE 


BOSTON     jfc     DANA      ESTES     & 
COMPANY   jfc    PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  igoj 
By  Dana  Estes  &  Company 


All  rights  reserved 


THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 


COLONIAL   PRESS 

EUetroiyped  and  Printed  by  C.  H.  Simondt  A*  Co, 

Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


SRLF 
URL 

5149944 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I.  Legacy  and  Legatee 

IL  Master  Montgomery  Sturtevant 

IIL  Why  Monty  Did  Not  Go  a -Fishing 

IV.  Foxes'  Gully 

V.  Chestnuts  and  Gold  Mines  .      .  . 

VI.  The  Brass  Bound  Box  . 

VII.  The  Grit  of  Moses  Jones     . 

VIII.  Hay  -  Loft  Dreams  .... 

IX.  Squire  Pettuohn    .... 

X.  Alfaretta's  Perplexity 

XI.  The  Face  in  the  Darkness  . 

XII.  A  Sturtevant  —  Perforce     . 

XIII.  But  —  Sturtevant  to  the  Rescue  . 

XIV.  On  a  Saturday  Afternoon  . 
XV.  By  the  Old  Stone  Bridge    . 

XVI.  The  Cottage  in  the  Wood  . 

XVII,  A  Self -elected  Constable. 

XVIII.  Reuben  Smith,  Accessory 

XIX.  What   the   Moon   Saw   in    the   Corn 

field      

XX.  Uninvited  Guests   .... 

XXI.  A  Neighborly  Trick  of  the  Wind 


PAGE 
11 

25 

40 

50 

64 

82 

95 

110 

126 

142 

154 

168 

187 

203 

220 

234 

248 

263 

278 
292 
310 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

"At  last  it  was  out"  (^See  page  81)  .  Frontispiece 

"  He  now  lay  stretched  upon  his  owner's  lap 

AS    SHE   still   sat   ON   THE    FLOOR  "  .  ,         27 

"'I    FEEL    SO     QUEER    EVERY    LITTLE    SPELL,    AN'    I 

must  get  home'" 97 

"There,  all  anxiety  forgotten,  they  dreamed 

dreams  and  saw  visions  "      .         .         .         .     120 

"  Ma'am   Puss   extracted   her  own  supper  in 

advance  of  the  family's"    ....     148 

"Already     one     pumpkin     pie    was     half-dk- 

VOURED  " 230 

"But  the  late  rising  moon  looked  down  upon 

a  curious  scene  " 290 

"Each  armed  with  a  grinning  Jack  and  some- 
body driving  Whitey  as  a  snowy  guide  "    324 


THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 


CHAPTER    I. 


liEGACY    AND    LEGATEE 


Maesden  was  one  of  the  few  villages  of  our 
populous  country  yet  left  remote  from  any  line  of 
railway.  The  chief  events  of  its  quiet  days  were 
the  morning  qnd  evening  arrivals  and  departures 
of  the  mail-coach,  whose  driver  still  retained  the 
almost  obsolete  custom  of  blowing  a  horn  to  signal 
his  approach. 

All  Marsden  favored  the  horn,  it  was  so  con- 
venient and  so  —  so  antique !  which  word  typi- 
fied the  spirit  of  the  place.  For  if  modest  Mars- 
den had  any  pride,  it  was  in  its  own  unchanging 
attitude  toward  modern  ways  and  methods.  So, 
whenever  Reuben  Smith's  trumpet  was  heard,  the 
villagers  knew  it  was  time  to  leave  their  homes 
along  the  main  street  and  repair  to  the  "  general 
store  and  post-office  "  for  the  mail,  which  was  their 
strongest  connecting  link  with  the  outside  world. 

Occasionally,  too,  the  coach  brought  a  visitor 
11 


12  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

to  the  village;  though  this  was  commonly  in 
summer-time,  when  even  its  own  stand-offishness 
could  not  wholly  repel  the  "  city  boarder."  After 
the  leaves  changed  color,  nobody  went  to  and  fro 
save  those  who  "  belonged,"  as  the  storekeeper, 
the  milliner,  and  Squire  Pettijohn,  the  lawyer; 
and  it  had  been  ten  years,  at  least,  since  Reuben's 
four-in-hand  was  brought  to  a  halt  before  Miss 
Eunice  Maitland's  gate.  Now,  on  a  windy  day 
of  la^  September,  the  two  white  horses  and  their 
two  black  companions  were  reined  up  there,  while 
the  trumpet  gave  a  blast  which  startled  the  entire 
neighborhood. 

"  My  heart  was  in  my  mouth  the  minute  I 
heard  it !  "  declared  the  Widow  Sprigg  to  a 
crony,  later  on;  although  this  curious  disar- 
rangement of  her  anatomy  did  not  prevent  the 
good  woman  from  being  foremost  at  the  gate  to 
learn  the  cause  of  this  salute,  thus  rudely  antici- 
pating her  mistress's  rights  in  the  case.  There- 
fore, it  was  upon  a  time-damaged,  cap-frilled 
countenance  that  Katharine  Maitland's  dismayed 
glance  fell  as  she  sprang  from  the  stage  and 
inquired : 

"  Are  you  m,y  Aunt  Eunice  ?  " 

"  Your  —  Aunt  —  Eunice !  Thank  my  stars, 
I  ain't  aunt  to  nobody !  "  returned  the  widow, 
almost  as  much  alarmed  by  the  appearance  of  this 
strange  maiden  as  she  had  been  by  the  coachman's 
blast. 


LEGACY   AND   LEGATEE  13 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  thankfulness,"  retorted  the 
girl,  pertly,  and  surveying  the  other  with  amused 
and  critical  eyes,  which  made  Susanna  Sprigg 
"  squirm  in  her  shoes." 

Reuben  now  slowly  climbed  down  from  his  high 
seat,  and  removed  from  the  rumble  a  great  trunk, 
a  suit-case,  a  parcel  of  books,  and  a  dog-basket; 
and  the  stranger  at  once  occupied  herself  in  re- 
leasing from  his  confined  quarters  a  pug  so  atro- 
ciously high-bred  that  Susanna  instantly  ex- 
claimed : 

"  My  stars !  That  dog's  so  humbly  he  must 
ache!" 

Katharine  would  have  given  a  crisp  reply  had 
not  her  attention  been  distracted  by  Reuben's 
movements,  who  was  waiting  to  receive  his  fare, 
yet  in  such  terror  of  the  pug's  snapping  jaws 
that  he  was  stepping  up  and  down  in  a  lively 
fashion,  as  he  rescued  one  foot  and  then  the 
other  from  his  enemy's  attack. 

"  'Pears  to  blame  me  for  bein'  shut  up  in  that 
there  basket,  don't  he  ?  When  anybody  knows 
'twasn't  my  fault  at  all.  I  hain't  enj'yed  the  trip 
no  more'n  what  he  has,  hearin'  him  yelp  that  con- 
tinual, an'  I  must  say  I  didn't  expect,  at  my  time 
o'  life,  to  commence  drivin'  stage  for  dogs.  Here, 
sis,  is  your  change.  Good  day  to  ye,  an'  a  good 
welcome,  I  hope." 

"  Humph !  You  don't  speak  as  if  you  really 
'  hoped '    it,    but   quite    the    reverse !  "    returned 


14  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

Punch's  mistress,  more  shrewdly  than  courte- 
ously. 

"  Dreadful  smart,  ain't  ye  ?  "  said  Reuben,  and 
drove  away,  putting  his  horn  to  his  lips,  and 
thereby  drowning  any  further  remarks  which  the 
stranger  might  have  addressed  to  him. 

Lifting  the  ungainly  brute  in  her  arms,  the 
girl  now  turned  and  surveyed  the  house  beyond 
the  gate,  her  heart  far  heavier  with  homesickness 
than  seemed  consistent  with  her  outward,  flippant 
bearing. 

What  she  saw  was  a  wide,  rambling  frame 
house;  wherever  they  showed  between  the  clam- 
bering vines  which  encircled  it,  its  clapboards 
glistening  white  and  its  shutters  vividly  green. 
The  few  leaves  still  left  upon  the  vines  were 
scarlet,  while  behind  the  low  roof  rose  maples 
in  the  full  glory  of  their  autumn  reds  and  yellows. 
The  long  front  yard  was  green  and  well  kept, 
and  the  borders  beside  the  path  were  gay  with 
chrysanthemums,  though  between  these  showed 
the  frost-blackened  foliage  of  tenderer  plants. 
Upon  the  porch  was  a  woman  with  a  shawl  over 
her  head,  apparently  shivering  in  the  wind  which 
tossed  the  maple  boughs,  and  awaiting  an  explana- 
tion of  this  arrival. 

"  A  pretty  picture !  "  admitted  Katharine,  who 
fancied  herself  artistic,  "  but  so  lonesome  it  gives 
me  the  hypo !    And  that  —  that,  I  suppose,  is  my 


LEGACY   AND   LEGATEE  15 

Aunt  Eunice.  Well,  Punch,  come  on!  Let's 
get  it  over  with !  " 

The  Widow  Sprigg  had  remained  motionless, 
but  keenly  observant,  and  her  thoughts  were : 

"  If  that  ain't  a  Maitland,  I  never  knew  the 
breed.  And  I  reckon  I  do  know  it,  bein's  me  an' 
mj  fam'ly  has  lived  cheek  by  jowl  with  them 
an'  their  fam'ly  since  ever  was.  But  which 
Maitland  it  is,  or  what  in  reason  she's  come  for, 
beats  me." 

Then,  as  the  stranger  walked  coolly  through  the 
gateway,  leaving  her  luggage  on  the  sidewalk 
outside,  Susanna  sniffed,  and  remarked  —  for 
anybody  to  hear  who  chose : 

"  What's  that  mean  ?  Expect  me  to  fetch  an' 
carry  for  such  a  strappin'  girl  as  that?  Well, 
not  if  I  know  Susanna  Sprigg,  an'  I  think  I  do." 

Whereupon,  the  widow,  long  time  "  assistant " 
to  her  more  affluent  "  neighbor,"  Miss  Maitland, 
shrugged  her  shoulders  at  the  wind  and  this 
absurd  notion,  and  followed  Kate.  She  wouldn't 
have  missed  the  interview  between  that  young 
person  and  her  enforced  hostess  "  for  a  farm," 
and  yet  she  was  extremely  anxious  concerning  the 
trunk  and  the  parcels.  But  curiosity  prevailed 
over  caution,  and  she  was  in  time  to  hear  the 
rather  nervous  inquiry: 

"  Are  you  my  Aunt  Eunice  —  so  called  ?  " 

"  I  am  Eunice  Maitland,  and  though  I  am  not 
aunt  in  reality  to  any  one,  I  have  been  lovingly 


16  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

nicknamed  '  aunt '  by  many  of  my  kin.  But  no 
matter  what  our  relationship,  you  are  a  Maitland, 
I  am  sure,  and  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you  in 
Marsden.  Come  in,  come  in  at  once.  The  wind 
is  chill,  and  you  have  had  a  long  ride,"  responded 
the  precise  old  gentlewoman,  extending  her  hand 
to  Katharine,  and  cordially  attempting  to  draw 
the  girl  within  the  shelter  of  the  great  hall. 

But  this  hospitable  attempt  was  rudely  mis- 
understood by  Punch,  who  snapped  at  the  hand, 
and  caused  its  owner  to  withdraw  it  hastily, 
saying:  "It  will  be  better  to  leave  your  dog 
outside." 

"  Leave  my  dog  outside !  Leave  Punch,  my  — 
my  —  my  darling!  Oh!  I  can't  do  that.  He 
has  been  so  tenderly  brought  up,  and  is  so  sensi- 
tive to  the  cold.  He  has  really  suffered  on  that 
dreadful  ride." 

Miss  Eunice  frowned  slightly,  and  merely  re- 
marking, "  Very  well,  bring  him  in,  though  I  cau- 
tion you  against  Sir  Philip.  He  is  old  and  irri- 
table," led  the  way  through  the  wide  hall  into  a 
sitting-room  beyond,  where  a  wood  fire  was  burn- 
ing on  the  hearth,  and  the  furnishings  were  of  the 
sort  in  vogue  a  hundred  years  ago.  Even  the  dis- 
turbed young  visitor  tliought  she  had  never  seen 
anything  so  charming  as  that  simfple  interior, 
where  everything  was  in  keeping,  and  so  spotlessly 
neat,  and  over  which  fell  the  cheerful  radiance 
of  the  blazing  logs.     Unceremoniously  dropping 


LEGACY   AND    LEGATEE  17 

Punch,  she  clasped  her  hands  in  admiration,  ex- 
claiming : 

"  Oh,  how  quaint !  How  interesting !  How 
unlike  anything  I  expected  to  see !  " 

Although  Miss  Eunice  was  gratified  by  this 
tribute  to  her  familiar  surroundings,  she  fancied 
that  its  expression  was  overdone,  and  resented 
its  seemingly  patronizing  insincerity.  Placing 
a  chair  directly  in  the  glow  of  the  fire,  she  invited 
Katharine  to  take  it,  while  she  herself  sat  down 
on  a  straight-backed  settle  beyond. 

Sensitive  to  feel  the  lessening  cordiality  of  her 
hostess's  manner,  Katharine  hid  her  feeling  be- 
hind an  added  flippancy,  as  she  tossed  her  palms 
outward,  in  a  manner  wholly  natural  to  herself, 
but  which  the  house-mistress  again  fancied  an 
affectation,  and  exclaimed :   "  Well !  " 

"  Well  ? "  returned  Miss  Eunice,  quietly  but 
inquiringly. 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you're  the  legatee  and  I'm 
the  legacy.  I  hope  you  won't  be  half  as  unwilling 
to  accept  me  as  I  am  to  be  left  to  you.  If  you  are, 
there'll  be  some  high  times  in  Marsden." 

This  mixture  of  frankness  and  bravado  brought 
a  second  frown  to  Miss  Maitland's  fine  face,  but 
she  said,  quite  courteously: 

"  Kindly  explain,  my  child,  who  you  are,  and 
to  what  I  am  indebted  —  " 

"  For  the  nuisance  of  your  legacy,"  interrupted 
the  girl,  excitedly,  and,  thrusting  a  sealed  letter 


18  THE   BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

into  the  other's  hand,  drew  back  in  her  own  chair 
and  covered  her  face  with  her  hands.  Under  all 
her  self-confident  manner  her  heart  was  throbbing 
painfully,  and  she  felt  as  if  she  mnst  get  up  and 
run  away.  Somewhere  in  the  great  forest  through 
which  Reuben  had  driven  his  coach  lay  an 
apparently  deserted  little  cabin,  which  had 
attracted  her  by  its  overgrowth  of  woodbine  — 
that  hereabout  seemed  to  envelop  everything 
upon  which  it  could  clasp  its  tendrils  —  and  whose 
memory  now  returned  to  her  invitingly.  Exiled 
from  her  own  home,  an  alien  here,  such  a  spot 
as  that  would  be  a  haven  of  refuge.  She  had  not 
known  exactly  Avhat  was  in  the  letter  she  had 
tossed  Miss  Maitland,  but  she  had  guessed  suffi- 
ciently near  to  know  its  contents  could  not  be 
flattering  to  herself.  Beneath  her  hiding  hands 
her  cheeks  were  flushing  with  shame  when  she 
heard  her  name  spoken  with  utmost  gentleness 
and  affection. 

"  So  you  are  John's  only  child !  I  should  have 
known  it  without  being  told,  only  it  is  so  many, 
many  years  since  he  left  me,  a  wild  little  lad 
who  found  the  old  home  too  dull.  He  was  not 
as  close  of  kin  as  some  others  I  have  reared  here, 
and  he  was  but  fifteen  when  he  went  away.  But 
I  have  always  loved  him,  and  hoped  for  his  re- 
turn ;    and  now  —  " 

"  Oh,  my  stars !  "  inadvertently  exclaimed  the 


LEGACY  AND   LEGATEE  19 

Widow  Sprigg,  thus  disclosing  the  fact  that  she 
had  been  listening  beyond  the  door. 

"  And  now,  Susanna,  I  smell  your  bread  scorch- 
ing," went  on  the  mistress  as  calmly  as  if  the  other 
had  not  betrayed  herself.  Then,  when  the  kitchen 
door  had  been  slammed  by  the  retreating  hand- 
maiden, with  an  emphasis  that  said  as  clearly  as 
words  that  her  mistress  might  go  on  and  talk,  and 
things  might  happen  enough  to  turn  a  body's 
head,  for  all  she,  Susanna  Sprigg,  cared  or 
noticed,  so  there !  Miss  Eunice  left  her  own  seat, 
and,  going  around  to  Katharine's,  gently  drew 
the  hiding  hands  away  from  the  troubled  young 
face,  and,  putting  the  letter  into  them,  said: 
"  There,  my  dear,  read  it." 

"  No,  no !  I  can't !  I  won't !  I  hate  it.  I 
hate  her,  and  all  —  all  —  belonging  to  her !  I 
never  want  to  see  or  hear  of  her  again.  And  I 
won't  stay.  I  see  you  don't  want  your  legacy,  and 
I'll  go  at  once.     I  have  ten  dollars,  I  can  live  —  " 

"  Why,  there's  some  mistake,  little  girl.  This 
is  from  no  '  her,'  but  —  a  message  from  the 
dead." 

The  sudden  break  in  the  quiet  old  voice  touched 
the  listener  more  than  the  words,  and  she  mechani- 
cally took  the  letter  as  she  repeated: 

"  A  message  from  the  dead  ?  W^hat  can  you 
mean  ?  " 

"  Read  it  and  see." 

Then  Katharine  read  what  her  idolized  father 


20  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

had  written  many  months  before,  when  the  knowl- 
edge of  his  own  approaching  death  had  come  to 
him;  and  it  seemed  to  her  that  it  was  his  own 
voice  saying: 

"  Dear  Aunt  Eunice  :  —  For  dear  you  are, 
notwithstanding  all  these  years  of  silence,  during 
which  your  wild  little  lad  has  grown  into  a  busy, 
care-burdened  man.  That  you  heard  of  my  first 
marriage,  and  my  wife's  early  death,  leaving  me 
with  one  little  girl  —  your  legacy  —  I  know ; 
because  that  all  happened  before  the  habit  of  our 
correspondence  lapsed.  But  you  may  not  know 
that  two  years  ago  I  married  again,  a  widow  with 
four  little  sons ;  and  though  she  has  been  the  best 
of  wives  te  me,  she  and  my  darling  Katharine 
have  not  been  happy  together.  Kate  is  a  passion- 
ate, self-willed,  but  great-hearted  child,  so  full  of 
romantically  generous  impulses  that  I  long  ago 
nicknamed  her  my  '  Kitty  Quixote.'  Her  step- 
mother's nature  and  temperament  are  of  quite 
another  mold;  and  knowing  what  I  have  just 
learned  concerning  my  own  health,  I  foresee  noth- 
ing but  misery  for  these  two,  should  they  be  left 
to  live  together  without  my  presence. 

"  So,  since  my  motherless  daughter  is  my  most 
precious  possession  and  you  have  been  my  most 
devoted  friend,  I  find  it  the  most  natural  thing 
in  the  world  to  bequeath  my  treasure  to  my 
friend.     If,  for  any  reason  unknown  to  me,  you 


LEGACY   AND   LEGATEE  21 

cannot  accept  my  legacy  I  have  made  other  ar- 
rangements for  Katharine's  future,  which  you 
can  learn  by  applying  to  my  lawyers,  Messrs. 
Brown  and  Brown,  Blank  Street,  New  York. 

"  My  wife  knows  of  this  letter,  and  we  have 
arranged  that  after  my  death,  should  it  occur, 
Kate  is  to  remain  with  her  for  six  months,  as  a 
final  test  of  their  ability  to  live  happily  together, 
and  for  the  benefit  of  the  schools  in  this  city.  At 
the  end  of  that  time,  if  these  two  well-meaning 
but  uncongenial  people  decide  that  it  is  wisest  to 
part,  '  Kitty  Quixote '  will  be  sent  to  you,  to  do 
with  as  you  see  fit.  In  any  case,  she  will  be  no 
pecuniary  charge  to  any  one;  her  own  mother's 
little  fortune,  with  such  a  portion  of  mine 
as  is  justly  hers,  being  all-sufficient  for  ordinary 
needs. 

"  In  loving  remembrance  of  my  boyhood,  made 
happy  by  your  care,  and  in  firm  reliance  upon 
your  friendship,  your  troublesome  John  bids  you 
farewell." 

Katharine  had  expected  to  find  the  sealed 
letter  she  had  been  commissioned  to  deliver  to 
Miss  Maitland  but  a  complaining  missive  from  her 
stepmother,  setting  forth  the  girl's  faults  and 
failures  with  that  accuracy  of  detail  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  "  second  Mrs.  John."  That  lady's 
handwriting  upon  the  envelope  had  helped  her  to 
this  impression,  yet  so  honest  was  she  that  she  had 


22  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

not  once  thought  of  protesting  or  refusing  to 
deliver  it.  The  revulsion  of  feeling  was  now  so 
strong  that  she  could  not  restrain  lier  tears,  nor  the 
impulse  to  throw  herself  headlong  upon  Aunt 
Eunice,  crying  wildly : 

"  Oh,  it's  all  true !  But  he  loved  me,  my  father 
loved  me,  bad  as  I  am !     And  for  his  sake  I  wish 

—  I  wish  I  could  be  good.     So  folks,  his  folks,  or 

—  or  anybody  could  stand  it  to  live  with  me !  But 
I  can't.  I've  tried.  I've  tried  ever  so  hard,  yet 
the  goodness  gets  down  below  and  the  badness 
stays  on  top,  and  then  things  go  —  smash  !  " 

Aunt  Eunice  waited  a  moment,  then  replaced 
Katharine  in  her  chair,  thinking  what  a  child  she 
still  seemed,  despite  her  fourteen  years  and  her 
city  training.  Also,  recalling  with  a  thrill  of 
pride  that  she  herself,  at  fourteen  years,  had  been 
the  head  of  her  own  father's  widowed  home  and 
a  woman,  by  contrast.  "  Though  I  was  reared  in 
Marsden,"  she  complacently  reflected,  as  she  said: 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  whatever  you  choose 
to  tell  me,  my  dear,  of  your  life.  Especially, 
what  caused  the  final  break  between  you  and  Mrs. 
Maitland." 

"  Why,  it  wasn't  badness  at  all,  that  time !  It 
was  meant  in  kindness.  Some  other  girls  and  I 
had  fixed  up  a  sort  of  house-picnic  for  washer- 
woman Biddy's  children,  who  were  all  down  \vith 
the  measles,  and  just  to  amuse  them  I  took  step- 
mother's   boys,     the    four    young    Snowballs  — 


LEGACY   AND  LEGATEE  23 

haven't  they  the  absurdest  name  ?  —  along ;  and 
she  —  she  didn't  like  it.  She  said  things.  That 
I'd  wilfully  exposed  them  to  danger,  though  I 
ought  to  be  as  careful  of  them  as  if  they  were 
my  real  brothers.  And  there  I  was  trying  to  be, 
only  she  didn't  understand.  Then,  another  day, 
not  long  before,  I  coaxed  some  big  boys  who 
have  a  naphtha-launch  to  give  the  'Balls  a  sail 
on  it  down  the  bay.  The  thing  happened  to  ex- 
plode, and,  though  nobody  was  hurt,  she  went  on 
just  terrible  because  I'd  taken  the  children  with- 
out asking  her.  How  could  I  ask  her  when  she 
was  off  shopping,  or  somewhere,  just  at  the  very 
moment  the  idea  popped  into  my  head  ?  And 
nothing  befell  the  little  fellows  except  getting 
their  clothes  wet,  and  they  always  needed  washing, 
anyway.  The  nice  part  of  it  was  that  they 
were  scared  into  behaving  themselves  as  they 
should  for  a  Avhole  week  afterward,  and  she  might 
have  been  pleased.  But  it  was  always  like  that. 
I'd  have  perfectly  lovely  plans  for  making  every- 
body happy,  all  around,  and  they'd  all  end  just 
the  other  way.  So  here  I  am.  Mrs.  John  has  cast 
me  off ;   do  you  accept  me  ?  " 

"  First,  let  me  ask  if  you  were  accustomed  to 
speak  of  your  father's  wife  in  that  manner  ?  " 

The  girl  was  surprised  by  the  other's  tone,  yet 
promptly  answered :  "  Certainly.  Everybody 
amongst  father's  artist  friends  called  her  either 


24  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

'  the  second  Mrs.  John/  or  '  Stepmother.'  Either 
one  it  happened.     Why  ?  " 

"  It  was  most  disrespectful." 

At  this  uncompromising  reply,  Kate  stared,  ex- 
claiming :  "  Why,  you're  a  truth-teller  yourself, 
aren't  you  ?  " 

"  I  am.  Did  you  not  suppose  so  ? "  returned 
Miss  Maitland,  amused. 

"  Well,  you  see,  I've  been  told  you  were  very 
agreeable,  and  most  of  the  really  agreeable  people 
I  know  lie  like  the  mischief." 

"  Katharine !  " 

"  Fact.  And  I've  got  into  more  scrapes  for 
telling  the  truth  than  for  any  other  thing  I've 
done,  except  being  kind  to  the  little  Snowballs. 
But  —  hark!  What's  that?  Punch  —  Punch 
—  You  flippety-cap  woman !  Stop !  Stop ! 
Stop!" 

An  eruptive,  agonized  bark  from  the  hall  sent 
the  girl  thither  at  a  bound,  while  Miss  Eimice 
hastily  followed,  anxiously  crying:  "Philip! 
Sir  Philip  Sidney !  " 


CHAPTER   II. 

MASTER    MONTGOMERY    STURTEVANT 

Wildly  beating  the  air  with  a  long-handled 
broom',  her  cap-frills  flying,  her  spectacles  awry, 
the  Widow  Sprigg  was  vainly  endeavoring  to 
restore  peace  between  Punch,  the  newcomer,  and 
Sir  Philip  Sidney,  the  venerable  Angora  cat 
which  had  hitherto  "  ruled  the  roost." 

The  pug,  with  a  native  curiosity  almost  as 
great  as  Susanna's  own,  had  slipped  from  the 
sitting-room  unobserved  and  had  wandered  to  the 
warm  kitchen  w'here  Sir  Philip  lay  asleep  on 
his  cushion,  unmindful  of  interlopers  till  an 
ugly  black  muzzle  was  poked  into  his  ribs,  and 
he  found  his  natural  enemy  coolly  ruffling  his 
silken  fur. 

Until  then.  Miss  Eunice  had  boasted  of  her  pet 
that  he  was  as  like  his  famous  namesake  as  it 
was  possible  for  any  animal  to  be  like  any  human 
being,  and  quoted  concerning  him  that  he  was 
"  sublimely  mild,  a  spirit  without  spot."  In- 
deed, Miss  Maitland's  beautiful  "  Angory  "  was 

26 


26  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

one  of  the  show  animals  of  Marsden.  He  had 
been  brought  to  his  mistress  by  a  returning  travel- 
ler more  years  ago  than  most  people  remembered, 
and  had  continued  to  live  his  charmed  and  pam- 
pered life  long  after  the  ordinary  age  of  his 
kind.  With  appetite  always  supplied  with  the 
best  of  food,  his  handsome  body  lodged  luxuri- 
ously, it  was  small  wonder  that  hitherto  he  had 
worn  his  aristocratic  title  with  a  gentleness  befit- 
ting his  historic  prototype. 

Now,  suddenly,  the  pent-up  temper  of  his  past 
broke  out  in  one  terrific  burst;  and  he  bit, 
scratched,  tore,  and  yowled  with  all  the  ferocity 
of  youth,  while  Punch,  realizing  that  he  had 
stirred  up  a  bigger  rumpus  than  even  his  mis- 
chievous spirit  desired,  vainly  sought  to  elude  his 
enemy's  attacks. 

"Why,  Philip!  Sir  Philip!"  cried  Miss 
Eunice,  stooping  to  grasp  her  favorite's  collar,  and 
by  his  unlooked-for  onrush  against  her  own  feet 
losing  her  balance  and  falling  to  the  floor. 

"  Punch  !  You  bad,  bad  dog !  There  —  you 
woman  !  Don't  you  dare  —  don't  you  dare  to 
strike  him  with  that  awful  broom!  If  he  needs 
punishing  —  I'll  punish  him  myself!  Oh,  what 
a  horrid  place,  what  horrid  folks,  what  a  per- 
fectly fiendish  cat!  "  shrieked  Kate,  folding  both 
arms  tight  about  the  pug's  fat,  squirming  body, 
and  rushing  out-of-doors  with  him.     But  by  this 


"  HE    NOW   LAY    STRETCHED    UPON    HIS    OWNER'S    LAP    AS 
SHE    STILL    SAT   ON    THE    FLOOR  " 


MONTGOMERY  STUETEVANT    27 

time  his  courage  had  returned,  and,  wriggling 
himself  free,  he  rushed  back  to  the  battle. 

Alas !  that  exciting  affair  was  all  over.  Sir 
Philip's  unwonted  anger  had  proved  too  much  for 
his  strength,  and,  utterly  exhausted,  he  now  lay 
stretched  upon  his  owner's  lap  as  she  still  sat  on 
the  floor,  stroking  and  caressing  him  most  ten- 
derly. 

Katharine  had  followed  Punch  back  to  the 
kitchen,  and  was  as  startled  as  he  was  proud  at 
the  sight  before  them.  Cocking  his  square  head  on 
one  side,  curling  his  tail,  wrinkling  his  nose,  and 
protruding  his  pink  tongue  even  more  than  usual, 
he  regarded  his  fallen  foe  with  such  comical 
satisfaction  that  Katharine's  alarm  gave  place  to 
amusement,  and  she  laughed  aloud.  But  the 
laugh  died  as  quickly  as  it  had  risen  when  Aunt 
Eunice  looked  up  and  said,  reproachfully: 

"  I  fear  it  has  killed  him,  poor  fellow !  " 

"  Oh,  no,  no !  A  little  bit  of  a  scrap  like  that 
kill  a  cat  ?  I  thought  they  had  nine  lives,  and  such 
a  trifle  —  Why,  Punch  is  as  fresh  as  a  daisy, 
and  that  proud !  Just  look  at  him !  "  cried  the 
girl.  Yet  her  enthusiasm  was  dashed  by  the 
expression  of  deep  sorrow  on  Miss  Maitland's 
face,  and  there  were  real  tears  in  the  widow's  eyes 
as  she  now  advanced,  broom  in  hand,  though  with- 
out apparent  anger,  to  sweep  Pimch  out  of  the 
room. 

Katharine  was  too  surprised  to  protest,  beyond 


28  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

quietly  motioning  the  broom  aside  and  lifting  the 
now  submissive  pug  to  her  shoulder,  where  he 
perched  calmly  contemplative  of  the  disaster  he 
had  evoked. 

"  There,  Eunice,  don't  fret.  What  can't  be 
cured  must  be  endured,  you  know,  and  even  a  cat 
can't  die  but  once.  Only  he  was  such  a  cat !  We 
sha'n't  never  see  his  like  again,  an'  —  Take  care 
there,  sis!  Don't  you  know  he  always  hated 
water  ? "  exclaimed  Susanna,  resting  upon  her 
broom-handle,  and  bending  above  her  anxious 
mistress  till  a  dash  from  the  dipper  deluged  both 
cat  and  lap. 

Yet  now  full  of  sympathy  and  regret  Kate  did 
not  pause  in  her  work  of  restoration,  and  either  the 
bath  did  revive  Sir  Philip  or  he  had  been  on  the 
point  of  recovery,  for  he  suddenly  sprang  up, 
shook  his  drenched  head,  and  staggered  toward 
his  cushion  on  the  hearth,  where  he  lay  down  and 
proceeded  to  smooth  his  disordered  fur. 

Then  Kate  put  her  artns  around  Miss  Mait- 
land  and  helped  that  lady  to  her  feet,  saying,  ear- 
nestly : 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  sorry,  and  I  am  so  glad !  but 
it  will  never  happen  again.  Poor  old  Sir  Philip 
won't  be  in  a  hurry  to  fight,  and  Punch  never 
does  if  he  can  help  it.  Do  you,  you  darling  ? " 
she  finished  to  the  perplexed  dog,  which  she  had 
unceremoniously  dropped  from  her  shoulder 
when  she  had  rushed  for  the  water. 


MONTGOMEEY  STUETEVANT    29 

The  pug  gave  a  funny  little  wink  of  one  intelli- 
gent eye,  as  if  he  fully  understood;  then  slowly 
waddled  across  the  rag-carpeted  floor  and  curled 
himself  up  at  a  safe  distance  from  Sir  Philip, 
upon  whom  he  kept  a  wary  watch.  But  he  was 
a  weary  dog  by  that  time,  and  so  glad  of  warmth 
and  repose  that  he  left  even  his  own  damaged 
coat  to  take  care  of  itself  for  the  present. 

However,  if  he  was  calm,,  the  Widow  Sprigg 
was  no  longer  so.  Kate  had  not  only  drenched  the 
cat  and  his  mistress,  but  she  had  left  a  large 
puddle  in  the  very  centre  of  Susanna's  "  new 
brea'th  "  of  rag  carpet,  its  owner  now  indignantly 
demanding  to  know  if  Miss  Eunice  "  was  goin' 
to  put  up  with  any  such  ddin's  ?  That  wery 
brea'th  that  I  cut  an'  sewed  myself,  out  of  my 
own.  rags,  an'  not  a  smitch  of  your'n  in  it,  an' 
hadn't  much  more'n  just  got  laid  down  ready 
for  winter.  An'  if  it  had  come  to  this  that  dogs 
and  silly  girls  was  to  be  took  in  an'  done  for,  cats, 
or  no  cats,  Angory  or  otherwise,  she,  for  one, 
Susanna  Sprigg,  wasn't  goin'  to  put  up  with  it, 
an'  so  I  tell  you,  an'  give  notice,  according." 

During  the  delivery  of  this  speech  the  widoVs 
black  eyes  had  glared  through  her  spectacles  so 
fiercely  that  the  young  visitor  was  alarmed,  and 
said  to  Aunt  Eunice,  appealingly: 

"  Oh,  please  don't  let  her  go  just  because  I've 
come  I    I'll  not  stay  myself,  to  make  such  trouble, 


30  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

even  if  you'll  have  me  —  and  you  haven't  said 
so  yet.     There's  that  boarding-school  left  —  " 

Miss  Maitland  ignored  the  appeal,  but  looking 
through  the  window  remarked  to  her  irate 
assistant : 

"  That  luggage  shouldn't  be  left  on  the  side- 
walk, Susanna.  Get  Moses  to  help  you  bring  it 
in.  If  a  tramp  should  happen  to  pass  he  might 
make  off  with  it." 

By  which  quiet  rejoinder  Kate  understood  that 
she  had  been  "  accepted ;  "  also  that  the  house- 
mistress  was  not  disturbed  by  the  threat  of  her 
handmaid.  Indeed,  she  discovered  afterward 
that  it  was  the  widow's  habit  to  threaten  thus 
whenever  her  temper  was  a  trifle  ruffled;  also, 
that  nothing  save  death  was  apt  to  sever  her 
relationship  with  the  Maitland  family,  which  she 
held  far  dearer  than  her  own. 

"  Tramps  ?  Do  you  have  tramps  in  this  out- 
of-the-way  village  ?  I'm  afraid  of  tramps,  my- 
self, and  they're  about  the  only  things  I  am  really 
afraid  of,"  said  Kate,  following  Aunt  Eunice 
back  into  the  sitting-room. 

"  I  never  knew  one  to  pass  through  Marsden, 
and  I've  lived  here  always;  but  Susanna  has 
read  of  them  and  their  depredations,  and  is  con- 
stantly on  the  lookout  for  one.  Except  for  the 
trouble  between  the  cat  and  dog  she  wouldn't 
have  left  your  things  in  the  street  a  moment  after 
she  had  satisfied  her  curiosity   concerning  you. 


MONTGOMEEY  STUETEVANT    31 

But  you  will  like  Susanna  when  you  have  become 
accustomed  to  her.  A  better-hearted  woman  never 
lived." 

To  this  assurance  the  girl  replied  with  a  doubt- 
ful laugh  and  the  words : 

"  I  never  should  have  dreamed  it ;  "  then 
stationed  herself  at  the  window  to  watch  the  pro- 
ceedings outside. 

The  Widow  Sprigg  had  vanished  through  a  back 
kitchen  and  now  appeared  around  the  corner  of 
the  house,  having  in  tow  an  elderly  man,  who 
followed  her  with  evident  reluctance.  She  had 
thrown  on  a  "  slat "  sunbonnet,  and  pinned  a 
red  shawl  about  her  shoulders,  but  had  shaken  her 
head  so  vigorously  that  the  shawl  had  slipped 
down  and  the  sunbonnet  back,  while  the  frills  of 
her  muslin  cap  waved  blindingly  before  her 
spectacles. 

"  Who  is  that  ?  Is  he  '  Moses '  ?  Does  he  live 
here  ? "  asked  Kate,  laughing  not  only  at  the 
appearance  but  behavior  of  the  two. 

"  Yes.  He  is  my  hired  man.  His  name  is 
Moses  Jones.  He  is  not  as  old  as  he  looks,  and  is 
one  of  our  likeliest  citizens.  He's  quite  intelli- 
gent, and  has  even  been  mentioned  for  a  con- 
stable —  if  Marsden  should  ever  need  one.  If 
enough  city  people  should  come  here  to  warrant 
such  an  office,"  finished  the  lady,  with  uncon- 
scious sarcasm. 


32  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

Kate's  head  came  around  with  a  jerk.  "  Con- 
stable ?     That's  a  policeman,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  is  it  only  '  city  people  '  who  do  wrong 
and  need  arresting?  Because,  you  see,  I'm  a 
'  city '  person  myself,  and  resent  that  idea !  " 
laughed  the  girl,  mischievously.  Yet  the  next 
instant  she  regretfully  observed  that  she  had 
again  annoyed  her  dignified  hostess. 

Indeed,  the  annoyance  was  so  great  that  Miss 
Maitland's  brow  clouded,  and  her  eye  swept  the 
stylishly  garbed  small  figure  at  the  window  with 
renewed  misgiving.  She  knew  little  of  the  latter- 
day  young  folks,  with  their  study-sharpened  in- 
telligence, their  habit  of  repartee,  and  their  self- 
assumed  equality  with  their  elders.  Such  few 
of  the  Marsden  lads  and  lasses  as  visited  her 
belonged  to  the  old-fashioned  families,  and  were 
trained  to  strict  habits  of  obedience,  and  "  to 
speak  when  they  were  spoken  to."  They  were 
supposed  to  have  no  opinions  on  any  subject 
save  such  as  w^ere  formed  for  them  by  their 
parents  and  guardians ;  and  —  well,  they  were 
altogether  different  from  this  alert,  dark-eyed 
maiden,  who  had  been  in  the  house  less  than  an 
hour,  yet  had  already  upset  it  to  a  degree ! 

Kate's  gaze  had  again  returned  to  the  scene 
without,  and  she  had  forgotten  her  momentary- 
regret,  as  she  observed,  from  time  to  time : 

"  She's  the  funniest  thing  I  ever  saw,  and  he's 


MONTGOMERY   STURTEVANT  33 

funnier  than  she!  He  doesn't  want  to  lift  the 
trunk.  No.  She  doesn't  want  him  to.  Yes,  she 
does.  She's  getting  mad.  He  won't  do  it  her 
way.  She  won't  do  it  his.  They're  both  coming 
in  and  leaving  it  on  the  sidewalk.  He's  saying 
something  to  her  and  now  she's  faced  about  again. 
Maybe  he  said  '  tramp,'  because  she's  looking  all 
up  and  down  the  street  as  if  she  were  scared,  and 
he's  laughing.  I  guess  he's  laughing  —  he  shakes 
as  if  he  were,  yet  his  face  is  as  sober  as  ever. 
Now  they're  off !  Here  they  come.  But  do  look, 
Aunt  Eunice,  oh,  do  look !  He's  just  barely 
lifting  his  end  off  the  ground,  and  she's  raised  hers 
real  high.  She's  doing  the  most  of  the  work, 
I  believe,  yet  he's  crouching  down  as  if  he  were 
half -crushed  by  the  weight.  The  idea !  He 
sha'n't  do  that !  I  won't  let  any  woman  be 
treated  that  way !  " 

Out  she  sped,  leaving  all  doors  open  and 
thus  obliging  Miss  Maitland  to  close  them  after 
her  or  let  the  rooms  be  cooled  by  the  inrush  of 
wind.  But  her  swift  comprehension  of  the  habits 
of  the  two  household  helpers,  and  her  vivid 
description  of  their  present  movements,  had  so 
amused  the  lady  that  she  also  took  up  a  point  of 
observation,  and  was  just  in  time  to  see  Katharine 
indignantly  push  Moses'  hand  from  the  trunk- 
handle  and  seize  it  herself.  It  was  evidently  a 
heavier  load  than  she  had  expected,  for,  at  first, 
her  end  went  down  even  lower  than  when  Moses 


34  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

held  it,  yet  she  rallied  instantly,  and  with  all 
her  might  lifted  it  to  a  level  with  Susanna's, 
who  was  as  instantly  won  by  this  action,  and  ex- 
claimed, exultantly: 

"  There,  Moses  Jones !  What  did  I  tell  you  ? 
Ain't  no  heft  in  it,  not  a  mite.  Nobody  but  a  man 
■ —  a  man  —  would  make  such  a  how-de-do  over 
a  trunk.    Just  a  trunk !  " 

The  infinite  scorn  of  words  and  manner  pro- 
voked nothing  further  from  her  "  shif'less  "  house- 
mate than  another  silent  chuckle,  and  a  keen 
glance  at  Katharine  from  beneath  his  bushy 
eyebrows. 

Yet  he  did  look  a  trifle  ashamed  when  his  mis- 
tress herself  opened  the  hall  door  again  to  admit 
the  trunk-bearers,  and  without  more  ado  hurried 
back  to  the  sidewalk  and  brought  in  the  rest  of 
the  luggage.  It  was  noticeable  that  he  no  longer 
stooped  or  affected  fatigue;  and  that  as  soon  as 
Susanna  let  go  the  trunk  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs 
he  immediately  shouldered  it,  like  the  lightest 
of  parcels,  and  carried  it  swiftly  above.  Then, 
pausing  at  the  top  of  the  flight,  he  asked,  in  a 
brisk  tone : 

"  Which  room,  Eunice  ?  " 
"  The  sitting-room  chamber,  Moses." 
Katharine  listened,  astonished,  then  exclaimed: 
"Why  —  I  thought  he  was  your  'hired  man.' 
That's  servant,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  About  the  same  thing,  my  dear,"   answered 


MONTGOMERY  STURTEVANT    35 

Miss  Maitland,  smiling  ever  so  slightly,  and  quite 
conscious  that  Susanna's  black  eyes  and  keen  ears 
were  alert  for  her  reply. 

"  But  he  called  you  by  your  first  name !  just 
as  if  he  were  your  brother,  or  —  or  —  somebody." 

"  There  is  little  giving  of  titles  in  Marsden, 
Katharine,  but  that  does  not  imply  any  lack  of 
respect.  Moses  and  Susanna  and  I  were  school- 
mates together  in  the  little  red  schoolhouse  at 
the  crossroads,  and  none  of  us  —  none  of  us  — 
wish  to  forget  it.  The  same  old  schoolhouse 
where  your  father  learned  his  letters,  and  where 
you  will  go  if  you  are  happy  enough  with  me  to 
remain.  Now,  Widow  Sprigg,  let  John's  little 
girl  see  what  sort  of  a  supper  you  used  to  fix 
for  him  when  he  was  hungry." 

All  fancied  slight  at  the  term,  "  servant "  thus 
atoned  for  by  the  formal  "  Widow  Sprigg,"  and 
her  favor  swiftly  won  by  Kate's  behavior  with  the 
trunk,  the  housekeeper  departed  in  high  good- 
humor,  her  cap-strings  flying,  spectacles  pushed 
to  the  top  of  her  head,  and  cheerily  remarking: 

"  So  she  shall,  so  she  shall.  I'll  show  her.  For 
Johnny  was  the  boy  to  eat  an'  enj'y  his  victuals. 
'Twas  a  comfort  to  cook  for  him,  he  was  that 
hearty.  I'll  have  it  ready  in  the  jerk  of  a  lamb's 
tail." 

Moses  came  down  the  stairs  and  went  out  "  to 
do  his  chores,"  casting  another  keen  glance  at  the 
stranger  ascending  them  with  Miss  Maitland  to 


36  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

the  sitting-room  chamber.  For  the  girl's  marked 
resemblance  to  a  boy  he  had  knoAvn  and  taken 
fishing  many  a  time,  he  was  inclined  to  like  her; 
but  because  of  the  probable  altered  household  life, 
and  her  swift  perception  of  his  whimsies,  equally 
inclined  to  dislike ;  and  he  shifted  the  straw  from 
one  side  of  his  mouth  to  the  other,  reflecting : 

"  Well,  it's  more'n  likely  she  an'  Eunice  won't 
gee.  Eunice  has  raised  six  seven  of  her  folkses' 
childern,  an'  I  'lowed  she'd  got  done;  but  there 
ain't  no  accountin'  for  silly  women  —  silly  women. 
Get  out,  there,  you!  Strange  that  a  body  can't 
leave  a  gate  open  a  single  minute  here  in  Marsden 
village,  without  somebody's  stray  cattle  tres- 
passin'.     Get  out,  I  say !  " 

The  plump  white  cow,  which  had  obtruded  its 
nose  through  the  gateway,  calmly  withdrew  it  and 
proceeded  on  its  way  imdisturbed  by  Moses' 
frantic  gestures.  Miss  Maitland's  was  not  the 
only  dooryard  in  the  village  where  grass  was  still 
abundant,  and  Whitey  knew  it. 

"  That's  old  Mis'  Sturtevant's  critter  again ! 
She's  no  right  to  turn  it  loose  to  feed  along  the 
street,  that-a-way.  Course,  she's  set  Monty  to 
watch,  an'  he's  gone  off  a-fishin'.  That's  as  plain 
as  a  pike-staff.  Pshaw !  Folks  so  poor  they  can't 
feed  their  stawk  hain't  a  right  to  keep  any,  I 
declare  !  When  I  get  to  be  constable  I'll  straighten 
some  things  in  Marsden  township  that's  terrible 
crooked  now;    an'  the  very  first  one  I'd  complain 


MONTGOMEEY  STUETEVANT    37 

of  or  arrest  would  be  that  lazy  little  stutterin' 
Monty  Sturtevant !  " 

"  W-w-w-wo-would  it  ?  " 

The  voice  came  from  beneath  the  white  lilac 
bush,  but  it  seemed  to  come  from  the  earth,  and 
Katharine,  at  the  just  opened  sitting-room  cham- 
ber window,  saw  the  whole  affair,  and  laughed 
aloud. 

Her  laughter  startled  the  intruder  as  much  as 
he  had  startled  Moses,  and  he  came  out  of  hiding, 
demanding : 

"  W-w-who's  t-t-that  ?  Aunt  Eu-Eu-Eu-Eunice 
got  comp-p-pany  ?  " 

"  Yes.  But  that's  no  concern  of  yours," 
snapped  the  hired  m;an,  "  and  you  best  go  'tend 
your  cow ;  "  finishing  his  advice  with  a  threaten- 
ing nod. 

"  Oh,  f-f-f -fudge !  Wait  till  you  get  to  he  co- 
co-constable, then  shake  your  h-head.  W-w-who 
is  it,  I  say  ?  " 

"  I  hain't  been  told,  but  I  'low  she's  some 
cousin  forty-times-removed  to  Eunice,  come  to 
sponge  a  livin'  out  of  us.  But  she  needn't  worry 
you  none.  She  hain't  come  to  your  house  to  upset 
things." 

"  G-g-glad  of  it !  "  returned  this  ungallant 
young  Marsdenite.  "  But  say,  TJn-un-uncle 
M-Mose." 

"  Now,  Monty,  none  o'  that.  I  know  what's 
afoot  when  any  you  boys  begin  to  '  uncle  '  me, 


38  THE   BKASS   BOUND   BOX 

an'  I  say  '  Xo.'  I  ain't  goin'  to  give  up  my 
night's  rest  for  a  fishin'-trip.     You  hear  me  ?  " 

"  B-b-but,  Uncle  Mose !  I've  got  the  b-ba-bai- 
bait  all  dug,  and  it'll  be  p-p-pr-prime  for  fishin'. 
Say,  Uncle  Mose,  we  haven't  had  a  s-s-s-single 
speck  o'  fresh  me-me-meat  't  our  house  for  a 
w-w-w-week !  " 

"  Montgomery  Sturtevant !  That  ought  to  make 
you  stutter  an'  choke !  Eunice  sent  your  grandma 
a  pair  o'  pullets  no  longer  ago  'n  yesterday. 
You  —  " 

But  Monty  had  already  departed  to  summon 
his  chums  for  an  evening's  sport.  Well  he  and 
they  knew  that  the  shortest  road  to  the  hired  man's 
heart  was  by  the  suggestion  of  hunger;  and  the 
surest  way  to  secure  parents'  consent  was  the 
announcement : 

"  Uncle  Moses'll  take  us  fishin',  if  you'll  let 
us  go." 

Moses  again  turned  his  face  chore-ward;  yet 
it  was  noticeable  that  he  paused  to  examine  his 
"  tackle  "  before  he  fed  the  poultry,  and  that  he 
softly  whistled  as  he  went  about  his  work.  He 
was  even  first  at  the  rendezvous,  on  the  old  "  eddy 
road ; "  and  though  others  joined  him  there, 
Montgomery  —  at  once  his  dearest  delight  and 
greatest  torment  —  did  not  appear. 

Alas !  at  that  moment  the  impecunious  heir 
of  all  the  Sturtevants  was  himself  in  anything  but 
a    whistling   mood;     and    was    thinking    direful 


MONTGOMEKY  STURTEVANT    39 

things  concerning  a  girl  with  whom  he  had  not 
yet  exchanged  a  word. 

"  The  h-h-h-hateful  young  one !  TJn-un-uncle 
Mose  said  '  none  o'  my  wor-r-ry/  an'  that's  all  he 
k-k-knew !  Plague  take  her !  W-w-wha.t  she  come 
to  M-M-Ma-Marsden  for  an'  drive  me  plumb 
cr-cr-craz-crazy !  " 


CHAPTER   III. 

WHY    MONTY    DID    NOT    GO    A  -  FISHING 

Montgomery's  love  of  gossip  was  his  own 
undoing.  When,  after  the  manner  of  Moses, 
worthy  guide,  the  young  angler  had  put  his  own 
fishing-tackle  in  order,  he  sought  the  dining- 
room,  where  supper  awaited.  For  once  he  was 
on  time,  and  received  a  word  of  commendation 
from  his  grandmother,  which  so  elated  him  that 
he  mentally  reviewed  the  day's  events  for  a  bit  of 
news  with  which  to  enliven  her  monotony.  Then 
like  a  flash  arose  before  him  the  picture  of  an 
unknown  girl  at  Miss  Maitland's  window.  This 
was  something  worth  telling,  indeed. 

With  his  mouth  full  of  chicken,  remnant  of 
Eunice's  pullets,  he  burst  forth. 

"  A-a-aunt  Eunice's  got  comp'ny." 

The  punctilious  old  lady  opposite  raised  her 
thin  hand,  protesting:  "My  son,  you  should 
never  attempt  to  talk  when  you  are  eating." 

i^othing  abashed,  the  boy  swallowed  hastily 
and  reiterated  his  statement.  At  which  Madam 
40 


DID   NOT   GO   A -FISHING  41 

Sturtevant  exclaimed,  with  as  much  excitement  of 
manner  as  she  ever  showed :  "  Company  ?  Dear 
Eunice  entertaining  guests  ?  Why,  son,  how  did 
you  learn  that  ?     Who  are  they,  pray  ?  " 

"  D-d-didn't  say  '  g-guests.'  She's  a  g-g-gir-rl. 
How  I  learned,  I  s-s-saw.  With  my  own  eyes. 
M-m-more  chicken,  g-gramma." 

"  Yes,  dear  heart.  It  is  delicious  poultry,  and 
so  sweet  of  Eunice  to  remember  us.  We  were 
always  close  friends,  and  she  is  still  a  lovely 
woman.  So  fresh  and  young  looking.  But  then, 
Eunice  never  married  nor  was  widowed,  nor  ex- 
changed wealth  for  poverty,  nor  reared  a  —  a 
grandson,"  concluded  the  dame,  fixing  a  too 
thoughtful  gaze  upon  Montgomery's  freckled 
face,  whose  only  aristocratic  feature  was  a  pair 
of  exceptionally  fine  eyes.  Her  mind  was  already 
wandering  back  into  that  past  which  held  so  much 
more  of  interest  to  this  decayed  gentlewoman  than 
the  present;  but,  wriggling  under  her  survey  of 
himself,  the  lad  reminded  her  that  Miss  Maitland 
had  also  had  her  trials,  in  that : 

"  Un-un-uncle  Mose  s-says  she's  raised  s-s-s-six 
sev — en  other  folks'   ch-ch-ch-childern,   anyhow." 

"  Sixty-seven  children !  My  dear,  you  must 
certainly  have  misunderstood.  But  no  matter. 
Finish  your  food  at  once.  Our  duty  is  plain.  I 
dislike  going  out,  except  on  Sundays,  and  espe- 
cially at  evening,  yet  dear  Eunice  would  think  me 
most  remiss  if  I  delayed  to  pay  my  respects  to 


42  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

any  guest  of  hers.  I  am  dressed  sufficiently  well 
for  an  informal  visit,  but  —  "  here  the  old  lady 
put  on  her  glasses  and  critically  regarded  her 
grandson's  attire,  then  remorselessly  continued: 
"  But  you,  my  son,  must  take  a  bath  and  put  on 
your  best  suit.  As  soon  as  possible ;  because  the 
stranger  will  be  tired  and  wish  to  retire  early. 
Finished  ?  That  is  well.  Strike  the  bell  for 
Alfaretta." 

Though  his  plate  was  still  heaped  with  the 
choice  portions  of  the  fowl,  which  his  doting 
grandmother  had  preserved  for  him,  and  though 
he  was  still  hungry,  unlucky  Monty  sank  back  in 
his  chair,  a  limp,  crestfallen  lad.  With  his  de- 
jected stare  fixed  upon  her  unrelenting  face,  he 
stammered  forth: 

"  B-b-but,  g-g-gr-gramtoa !  I'm  goin'  a-f-f- 
fishin'  !  " 

"  Nonsense.  Get  ready  immediately,"  said 
Madam,  rising  from,  table,  and  measuring  out  the 
supper  portion  of  Alfaretta,  the  one  small  servant 
of  a  house  which  had  once  sheltered  many. 

Then  he  also  rose,  but  so  languidly  that  "  Alfy  " 
stared,  and,  glancing  toward  his  still  full  plate, 
inquired :    "  You  .sick  ?  " 

"  No,  I  ain't.     I'm  m-m-mad !  " 

"  At  me  ?  " 

*'  N-no.  Y-y-yes.  You're  another  of  'em. 
She's  a  g-g-girl.  I've  got  to  go  s-s-s-see  her !  Just 
a  p-p-plain  girl !  " 


DID   NOT   GO   A -FISHING  43 

The  infinite  scorn  with  which  this  reply  was 
hurled  at  her  touched  Alfaretta's  pride.  Was  she 
not,  also,  a  girl  ?  Said  she,  with  intent  to  "  get 
even  "  for  some  of  his  former  toplofty  remarks : 
"  Oh !  I  thought  you  was  goin'  fishin'  with  Uncle 
Mose.  I  saw  Bob  Turner  go  past,  quite  a  spell 
ago,  and  he  was  whistlin'  like  lightnin'.  And  I 
heard  you  say,  more'n  once,  't  you  '  hadn't  no  man 
to  boss  you  —  you  could  do  as  you  pleased.'  " 

"  So  I  can  when  —  when  g-g-gr-gramma  ain't 
r-r-round,"  replied  he,  so  meekly  that  Alfaretta 
relented.  She  had  been  intending  to  add  the  con- 
tents of  Monty's  plate  to  the  less  appetizing 
portion  set  out  for  herself,  but  now  determined 
to  put  aside  for  a  future  luncheon  whatever  he 
had  left.  Food  was  never  overabundant  at  the 
Madam's,  and  Alfaretta  made  it  her  business 
that  none  of  what  there  was  should  ever  go  to 
waste. 

"  Never  mind,  Monty.  To-morrow  ain't 
touched  yet,  an'  there'll  always  be  fish  in  the  pool," 
comforted  the  little  maid  with  real  sympathy, 
for,  despite  the  fact  that  he  teased  her  continually, 
she  loved  him  sincerely. 

But  he  merely  banged  the  door  behind  him  as 
he  departed  to  his  toilet,  feeling  himself  the  most 
abused  of  mortals.  For  if  there .  was  anything 
which  this  "  last  of  the  Sturtevants  "  hated  worse 
than  paying  a  visit  it  was  taking  a  cold  bath  in  a 
tub,  an  ordinary  wooden  wash-tub !    To  have  both 


44  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

bath  and  visit  imposed  upon  him  in  one  fell  hour, 
was  an  undreamed-of  calamity. 

Therefore,  it  was  a  very  different  appearing 
youth  from  his  ordinary  merry  self  who  was 
presented  to  Katharine  in  Miss  Eunice's  lamp- 
lighted  sitting-room  an  hour  later.  In  outward 
matters,  also,  a  vastly  improved  one,  since  his 
rough  denim  blouse  and  overalls  had  been  ex- 
changed for  a  fairly  modern  suit,  thoughtfully 
supplied  him  by  wealthier  relatives ;  his  tangle 
of  close-cropped  curls  brushed  smooth,  and  his 
face  freed  from  all  spots  save  freckles. 

"  Katharine,  you  may  take  Montgomery  over 
to  that  little  table  where  the  photograph  albums 
are,  and  show  them  to  him.  You  and  he  should 
be  good  friends,  as  all  the  Sturtevants  and  Mait- 
lands  have  been  for  generations  before 'you,"  said 
Miss  Eunice,  after  the  presentation  had  been 
made,  and  during  which  ceremony  Monty  had 
wisely  refrained  from  speech. 

"  Come  on,  then,  and  I'm  awfully  glad  to  see 
you.  I  began  to  think  there  wasn't  a  single 
young  person  in  this  Marsden,  for  all  I've  seen  so 
far  have  been  gray-haired,"  said  Kate,  leading  the 
way  to  the  table,  where  a  shaded  lamp  shed  a 
pleasant  radiance.  But,  having  arrived  there, 
she  coolly  pushed  the  albums  aside,  and  remarked : 

"  I  hate  looking  at  photographs.  Don't  you  ? 
They're  commonly  so  inartistic.  I'd  much  rather 
talk." 


DID   NOT   GO   A -FISHING  45 

By  this  time  Monty  was  staring  with  wonder 
at  this  creature,  who  was  one  of  the  despised 
"  girls,"  who  had  laughed  at  him  from  the 
window,  and  whose  speech  and  appearance  were 
so  unlike  those  of  all  other  girls  he  knew.  She 
didn't  act  shy  nor  silly,  nor  drop  her  g's,  nor 
pretend  "  politeness,"  nor  wear  her  hair  or  clothes 
as  they  did.  She  was  just  as  frank  and  unabashed 
as  a  boy  among  boys,  and  the  visitor  began  to  be 
glad  that  he  had  come.  It  would  be  something 
worth  while  telling  at  school  to-morrow,  that  he 
had  already  made  acquaintance  with  Aunt 
Eunice's  unexpected  company,  and  that  she  was 
real  nice. 

Something  of  her  charm  vanished,  however, 
when  she  ordered,  peremptorily:    "You  begin." 

Now,  although  the  boy  outwardly  made  light 
of  his  own  affliction,  he  was  in  reality  extremely 
sensitive  concerning  it,  and  naturally  he  was  not 
inclined  to  open  conversation  with  this  stranger 
whose  own  tongue  was  so  glib.  He,  therefore, 
contented  himself  with  turning  his  great  blue  eyes, 
fringed  with  such  wonderful  lashes,  full  upon  her, 
and  smiling  beatifically.  So  cherubic  was  his 
expression,  indeed,  that  at  that  instant  Madam, 
chancing  to  turn  her  gaze  that  way,  touched 
Miss  Maitland's  arm  and  directed  that  lady's 
attention  toward  him,  whispering: 

"  Isn't  he  lovely  ?    Isn't  he  clear  Sturtevant  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  is  Sturtevant,  indeed,"  assented  Aunt 


46  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

Eunice,  but  with  a  sigh  that  did  not  betoken 
satisfaction.  "  He  has  the  Sturtevant  vanity, 
Elinor,  to  the  full.  You  should  correct  him  of  it 
at  once.    He's  a  fine  lad  —  in  some  respects." 

It  proved  that  Montgomery  was  to  be  corrected, 
and  at  once,  though  not  by  his  indulgent  guardian. 
It  was  Katharine's  part  to  do  that,  as  she  opened 
her  own  dark  eyes  to  their  fullest,  and  exclaimed: 

"  Well !  You're  the  first  boy  I  ever  saw  make 
goo-goo  eyes !  The  very  first  boy.  They're  quite 
pretty,  but  I'd  rather  hear  you  talk  than  look 
at  them.  Tell  me  things.  I've  come  to  this  vil- 
lage, and  I've  got  to  stay.  I'm  a  legacy.  I'm 
left  to  Aunt  Eunice  yonder,  and  she  can  keep 
me  long  as  she  likes.  When  she  doesn't  like,  she 
can  send  me  to  boarding-school.  I'm  an  orphan. 
I  hope  she  will  like,  because  I  love  her  already, 
only  she's  so  correct  I  know  I  shall  shock  her  a 
dozen  times  a  day.  I'm  fourteen  years  old.  My 
home  was  in  Baltimore.  I  came  on  to  New  York 
yesterday  with  a  friend  of  the  second  Mrs.  John's 
—  I  mean,  of  Mrs.  Maitland's  —  and  stayed  there 
last  night.  To-day  I  came  on  the  train  as  far  as 
it  went,  then  in  the  stage  with  the  queer  driver 
blowing  a  horn.  It  was  just  like  a  story-book. 
This  home,  too,  and  everybody  might  be  out  of 
a  story-book,  all  so  unlike  anything  I  ever  saw. 
But,  I  beg  your  pardon.  I've  just  thought  that, 
though  you  seem  to  hear  well  enough,  maybe  you 


DID   NOT   GO   A -FISHING  47 

are  dumb.  Are  you  ?  Because  if  you  are  I  can 
talk  a  little  myself  in  the  sign  language." 

This  was  too  much.  Monty  burst  forth  in  self- 
defence,  and  to  stop  that  running  chatter  of  hers : 

"N-n-n-no!     I-I-I-I  —  " 

Then  silence.  Katharine  had  never  before  met 
a  person  who  stammered,  and  she  was  utterly 
astonished.  At  that  moment,  also,  there  was  a 
lull  in  the  animated  conversation  which  the  two 
old  ladies  opposite  had  hitherto  kept  up,  so  that 
Montgomery's  loud  yet  uncertain  protest  fell  like 
a  bomb  on  the  air. 

However,  the  silence  was  not  to  last.  Katharine 
recovered  from  her  surprise,  and  demanded, 
indignantly : 

"  Why  do  you  say*'  I-I-I-I '  ?  Are  you  mock- 
ing me  ?  because  if  you  are,  I  consider  that  more 
ungentlemanly  than  to  make  eyes." 

"  No,  Kate,  Montgomery  is  unfortunate.  He 
stutters.  You  should  apologize.  To  jeer  at  the 
infirmity  of  others  is  the  depth  of  ill-breeding," 
interposed  Miss  Maitland,  hastily  crossing  the 
room  and  laying  a  reproving  hand  upon  the  girl's 
shoulder.  Then  she  continued,  smiling  affection- 
ately upon  the  lad :  "  But  we  who  all  know  and 
love  Montgomery  are  sure  that  he  will,  in  time, 
overcome  his  impediment.  'Tis  only  a  matter  of 
practice  and  patience." 

The  boy  made  no  reply,  but  sat  with  down-bent 
head  and  flushing  face,  wishing  again,  as  when  this 


48  THE   BRASS   BOUND    BOX 

dreadful  visit  was  appointed  him.,  that  Katharine 
Maitland  had  never  set  foot  in  Marsden  village. 
Longing,  too,  with  a  longing  unspeakable,  to  retort 
upon  her  with  a  volubility  and  sharpness  ex- 
ceeding even  her  own.  But  all  unconsciously  his 
pride  had  received  just  the  sting  needed,  and 
his  angry  thought,  in  which  there  was  no  halting 
stammer,  was  this: 

"  I'll  show  her !  I'll  let  her  see  a  Sturtevant 
is  as  good  as  a  Maitland  any  day !  I  ain't  vain. 
She  sha'n't  say  it.  I  have  got  nice  eyes,  folks  all 
say  so,  and  it's  easier  to  talk  with  them  than 
with  my  crooked  old  tongue.  But  I'll  conquer 
it.  I  will.  Then  I'll  show  her  what  kind  of  a 
girl  she  is  to  dare  —  " 

To  dare  what  ?  * 

In  all  his  previous  ignominy  there  was  naught 
compared  with  this.  For  here  was  Kate,  remorse- 
ful, warm-hearted  Kate,  who  never  meant  to  give 
a  single  creature  pain,  yet  was  forever  doing  it, 
Kate  —  down  upon  her  knees  clasping  Monty's 
neck  with  her  arms,  kissing  and  beseeching  him 
"  not  to  mind,"  exactly  as  she  Avould  have  kissed 
the  smallest  of  all  the  Snowballs,  and  not  resent- 
ing it  in  the  least  because  he  did  not  instantly 
respond  to  her  entreaties. 

Respond  ? 

For  the  space  of  several  seconds  it  seemed  to 
the  lad  that  his  head  was  whirling  on  his  shoulders 
like  a  top.     Then,  with  all  the  rudeness  of  his 


DID   NOT   GO   A -FISHING  49 

greater  strength,  he  flung  the  demonstrative  girl 
aside  and  rushed  from  the  house.  One  idea  alone 
was  clear  in  his  troubled  brain :  that  he  must  get 
away  from  everything  feminine  and  go  where 
there  were  "  men."  The  fishing-pool.  Uncle 
Moses  and  the  boys.  The  thought  of  them  was 
refreshment,  and  put  all  other  thoughts,  of  dis- 
obedience and  its  like,  far  from  him.  Striking 
out  boldly,  yet  half-blindly  through  the  dim 
light,  he  crossed  Miss  Maitland's  orchard,  took 
a  short  cut  by  way  of  the  great  forest  —  which 
he  nor  no  other  Marsden  lad  would  ordinarily 
have  entered  alone  after  nightfall  —  on  past  the 
"  deserted  cottage  "  in  the  very  heart  of  the  wood, 
and  then  —  oblivion. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


foxes'  gully 


WiTEN  next  Montgomery  opened  his  eyes  his 
head  lay  on  something  soft,  and  he  confusedly 
tried  to  understand  what  and  where  it  was.  But 
thought  seemed  difficult,  and  he  closed  his  lids 
again,  wondering  what  made  him  feel  so  weak, 
and  drowsily  deciding  that  he  must  be  in  his 
own  bed  and  this  the  middle  of  the  night. 

In  one  thing  he  was  correct  —  it  was  the  middle 
of  the  night ;  a  later  hour  than  the  boy  had  ever 
been  absent  from  home,  even  upon  the  most 
prolonged  of  fishing-trips.  Yet  the  softness  be- 
neath his  head  was  not  that  of  a  pillow  in  its 
case,  but  the  lap  of  a  white-frocked  girl,  who  was 
holding  him  tenderly  and  sobbing  as  if  her  heart 
would  break. 

"  W-w-wh-where  'm  I  a-at  ?  Who's  a-c-c-cr- 
cry  — in'  ?" 

"  Oh,  you  darling  boy !  you  didn't  die,  did  you, 
after  all !  Oh,  I'm  so  glad,  so  glad,  so  glad ! 
And  I  thought  I  had  killed  you.    I'd  never  killed 

60 


FOXES'   GULLY  51 

anybody  before,  though  stepmother  said  I'd  tried. 
I  mean  I  —  I  suppose  I  scared  you  some  way,  I 
don't  see  how,  for  the  minute  I  was  good  to  you 
and  sorry,  you  ran  away." 

Montgomery  moved  uneasily.  He  began  to  re- 
member events  distinctly;  quite  too  distinctly,  in 
fact.  He  had  run  away  from  that  horrid  girl, 
and  he  had  forgotten  the  ravine  beyond  "  deserted 
cottage."  He  had  fallen  down  it  and  hit  his  head. 
He  could  recall  the  dreadful  sensation  of  pitch- 
ing forward  into  a  seemingly  bottomless  pit,  and 
shivered  afresh  at  the  memory. 

Feeling  him  shiver  thus,  Katharine  drew  her 
white  skirts  around  his  shoulders,  and  cossetted 
him  as  if  he  had  been  a  baby.  He  tried  to  wriggle 
away  from  her  on  to  the  ground  beyond,  but  this 
she  sturdily  prevented,  and  the  late-rising  moon 
cast  its  light  just  then  upon  a  face,  oddly  set  and 
determined  for  that  of  so  young  a  girl. 

Finding  himself  helpless  in  that  strange  weak- 
ness, Monty  ceased  to  wriggle,  and  demanded: 
"  How  y-y-y-you  get  here,  a-a-a-nyway  ?  " 

"  Oh !  I  just  followed.  When  you  ran  away 
I  ran  after." 

"  A-a-a-auut  Eu-Eu-nice   let  you  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  stop  to  ask  her  permission.  I  saw 
I'd  hurt  your  feelings,  and  I  couldn't  let  you  go 
without  telling  you  I  was  sorry.  But,  you  see, 
I  never  before  knew  anybody  who  stanimered, 
and  I  didn't  think  how  rude  I  was  to  mention  it. 


52  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

Not  till  Aunt  Eunice  pointed  it  out.  I  do  beg 
your  pardon,  sincerely.     Will  you  forgive  me  ?  " 

It  was  not  in  the  spirit  of  any  Sturtevant,  past 
or  present,  to  decline  an  apology  so  sweetly  and 
earnestly  offered.  Besides,  that  was  as  it  should 
be.  Humility  was  the  correct  attitude  for  insig- 
nificant girls  toward  such  superior  creatures  as 
boys,  and  Monty  waxed  magnanimous,  replying: 

"  Oh,  y-y-es !  I'll  f-f -forgive  you.  But  I 
don't  see.     G-g-gir-ls  can't  run  like  boys." 

"  Can't  they,  indeed  ?  Well,  you  ran  like  a 
hare,  and  I  just  as  fast.  There  was  mighty  little 
space  between  us,  honey,  and  you  may  believe  it. 
How  else  should  I  have  known  the  way?  I  had 
to  keep  you  in  sight,  of  course.  It  was  so  fear- 
fully dark  in  that  forest  that  I  nearly  lost  you 
once,  but  I  could  hear  if  I  couldn't  see;  and 
it  wasn't  so  bad  when  we  got  outside  again.  Yet 
whatever  should  make  you,  a  boy  —  a  boy !  —  go 
and  hurl  yourself  over  a  precipice,  when  you 
knew  all  the  time  it  was  there,  while  I,  a  girl  —  a 
girl,  if  you  please !  who  didn't  know  a  thing  about 
it  —  stopped  short  on  the  brink,  amazes  me. 
Explain  it,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  f-f -f -fudge !  Must  be  aw-aw-awful  late. 
Moon  don't  rise  now  t-t-till  'most  m-m-morning," 
observed  Montgomery,  declining  explanations, 
and  wondering  how  she  had  perceived  his  dis- 
taste for  girls.  Besides,  he  was  rapidly  regaining 
strength,    and   now   when   he   raised   himself   an 


FOXES'   GULLY  53 

inspiration  came  to  him.  The  inspiration  found 
voice  in  the  words : 

"  M-m-m-might's  well  be  hung  for  a  s-s-s-sheep 
as  a  1-1-1-lamb." 

The  observation  was  apparently  so  senseless 
and  Katharine's  love  of  mimicry  so  strong  that  she 
couldn't  help  replying  and  laughing:  "  J-j-j-just 
as  w-w-well.  But  where's  the  s-s-s-s-sheep  and 
1-1-lamb  in  the  case  ?  " 

Montgomery  did  not  now  resent  her  imitation 
of  his  very  tone.  He  even  condescended  to  laugh 
back ;  then  ungallantly  remarked :  "  I  wish 
y-y-you'd  go  h-h-home." 

"  Meaning  to  Aunt  Eunice's.  That's  exactly 
what  I  want  to  do.     So  let's  be  off." 

"  I  s-s-said  y-you,"  corrected  Master  Sturtevant, 
rising  and  taking  a  few  cautious  steps  to  test  the 
state  of  his  legs.  He  found  them  usable,  though 
rather  wobbly  about  the  knees,  and  would  have 
started  off  across  the  ravine's  bottom  had  not 
Katharine  caught  and  held  him.  She  was  herself 
shivering  violently,  but  only  from  the  cold  of  an 
autumn  midnight,  against  which  her  light  summer 
dress  was  small  protection.  She  ached  from  long 
sitting  on  the  stony  ground,  and  from  holding  the 
heavy  shoulders  of  her  companion.  She  was 
frightened  by  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and  the 
intense  loneliness  of  the  place;  and  she  felt  that 
she  had  sacrificed  herself  for  just  the  very  mean- 
est boy  who  ever  lived.     Though  she  was  not  a 


54  THE   BPuASS   BOUND   BOX 

girl  who  often  cried,  tears  came  then,  and  that 
worst  of  all  feelings  —  homesickness  —  seized 
her  and  turned  her  faint. 

Poor  Monty !  Here  was  a  situation,  indeed, 
for  a  boy  who  despised  girls !  Yet  also  a  boy 
who  was  a  gentleman  by  birth ;  so  that,  while  his 
first  impulse  was  to  run  away,  his  second  was  to 
offer  such  comfort  as  he  could. 

"  W-w-what  you  cry  in'  for,  a-a-anyway  ?  I-I- 
I'm  all  right,  I  guess." 

"  Well,  if  you  are,  I'm  not.  I'm  just  as  anxious 
to  go  home  as  you  are,  only  how  can  I  ?  I  don't 
know  the  way,  and  I'm  afraid.  I'm  afraid  of 
everything!  Of  that  terrible  forest,  of  Aunt 
Eunice's  anger,  of  her  refusing  to  keep  me  and 
sending  me  off  to  that  boarding-school,  of —  Oh, 
dear !     I  wish  I  was  back  in  Baltimore !  " 

Never  had  the  cold  countenance  of  the  second 
Mrs.  John  or  those  of  the  round  little  Snow- 
balls seemed  so  humanly  lovable  to  Katharine  as 
they  did  at  that  moment,  remembering  them  in 
her  banishment. 

"  F-f -fudge  !  Q-q-quit  it !  If  we're  goin'  to  get 
scolded  for  part,  might's  well  b-b-be  for  the 
w-w-w-whole.  'Tain't  far  to  the  pool.  We  can 
go  f-f-fishin',  after  all,  if  you  behave.  I  th-th- 
thought  you  was  good  as  a  boy,  an'  —  Will 
you  ? " 

Kate  dried  her  eyes.  She  didn't  enjoy  grief, 
and  the  prospect  of  any  novelty  was  delightful. 


FOXES'   GULLY  55 

She  forgot  that  she  was  cold,  that  it  was  late 
and  she  where  she  should  not  have  been  at  such 
an  hour,  and  exclaimed,  with  an  eagerness  equal 
to   Montgomery's   own : 

"  Oh,  let's !     I  never  went  fishing  in  my  life !  " 

"  Come  on,  t-th-then !  "  cried  the  relieved  lad, 
now  readily  taking  her  cold  hand  and  setting  off 
with  all  the  speed  he  could  attain. 

The  moon  was  shining  brilliantly,  making 
every  object  as  distinct  as  day,  and  to  the  city- 
reared  girl  the  scene  was  like  fairy-land.  Her 
spirits  rose  to  the  highest,  and  none  the  less,  it  may 
be,  because  all  the  time  she  was  conscious  of  a 
certain  daring  and  danger  in  their  escapade ;  and 
her  pace  more  than  outstripped  Monty's  as  they 
crossed  the  short  distance  to  the  river,  warming 
themselves  by  their  own  speed,  and  listening 
intently  for  the  sound  of  voices  which  should  have 
reached  them  long  before. 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  delightfully  goose-fleshy !  This  is 
the  most  thrilling  adventure  of  my  life !  I  begin 
to  feel  as  if  I  were  part  of  a  story-book  myself, 
like  all  the  rest  of  Marsden !  "  said  Kate,  half- 
breathless  with  running,  when  her  mate  came  to 
a  sudden  halt  among  the  shadows  of  the  trees 
beside  the  famous  pool. 

"  S-s-s-sh !  "  warned  the  other,  leaning  forward 
at  the  risk  of  a  tumble  into  the  still,  deep  water, 
listening  and  peering  up  and  down  the  stream. 
Then,  with  disappointment  depicted  in  every  line 


56  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

of  his  suddenly  weary  body,  he  gloomily  stam- 
mered:     "  Th-th-th-they've   gone    home!" 

There  was  nothing  left  but  for  themselves  to 
follow;  but  surely,  there  were  never  fields  so 
wide  and  rough  as  these  over  which  Master 
Sturtevant  now  guided  Katharine;  herself,  also, 
so  tired  from  her  day  of  travel  and  her  night  of 
adventure;  and  finally,  feeling  as  if  the  stubble 
pierced  every  inch  of  her  thin  shoes,  and  that  she 
could  endure  the  discomfort  no  longer,  she  begged : 

"  Oh !  please  do  go  by  some  road,  and  not  on 
this  grass  any  longer." 

"Huh!  'T-t-tain't  grass.  Oat-st-st-stubble," 
he  explained,  doggedly  keeping  on  his  way,  which 
he  knew  was  shorter,  and  for  the  further  reason 
that  he  could  rid  himself  of  her  at  Miss  Mait- 
land's  back  garden  fence.  From  there  he  meant 
to  make  his  own  rapid  transit  to  his  grandmother's 
low  kitchen  roof  and  through  a  window  to  his  bed, 
as  he  fondly  hoped,  forgotten  and  unobserved. 
He  didn't  intend  that  any  strange  girl  should 
throw  all  his  plans  agley,  for  she  had  done  more 
than  mischief  enough  already.  Yet  even  as  he 
spoke,  he  looked  furtively  around  and  was  dis- 
mayed to  see  how  white  she  was,  and  how  big 
and  troubled  her  dark  eyes  were.  Fudge!  They 
were  even  larger  and  finer  than  his  own  blue  ones, 
yet  she  had  not  once  seemed  conscious  of  the 
fact. 

It  was  the  Madam's  opinion  that  "  blood  would 


FOXES'   GULLY  57 

tell,"  and  the  good  blood  of  many  past  Sturtevants 
stirred  now  in  their  descendant's  veins,  rousing 
his  unselfishness,  and  making  him  say: 

"  F-f -fudge !  You  look  b-b-beat  out.  I'll  go 
the  road,  all  right.  I  don't  m-m-m-mind  it  — 
m-m-much,  not  much  ;  "  for  even  chivalry  could 
not  prevent  this  last  truthful  word  of  regret. 

So  by  the  road  they  went;  and  by  the  road 
—  retribution  came.  Nemesis  in  the  form  of 
Moses  Jones ;  no  longisr  in  a  mood  to  be  "  uncled  " 
by  any  boy,  not  even  Montgomery,  and  in  his 
sternness  grown  almost  unfamiliar.  He  was  not 
alone.  Two  neighbors  were  with  him,  and,  despite 
the  fact  that  the  moon  was  shining,  all  three  men 
carried  lighted  lanterns.  They  were  overcoated 
and  mufiled  to  a  degree,  and  Moses'  first  action 
was  to  unfold  a  great  shawl  which  he  had  carried 
on  his  shoulder,  and  wrap  Kate  in  it.  He  did  this 
in  silence,  not  so  much  as  asking  "  by  your  leave," 
and  not  observing  that  he  was  smothering  her  at 
the  same  time.  Then  he  took  hold  of  her  arm 
through  the  folds  of  the  shawl,  and,  facing  about, 
started  back  along  the  route  he  had  come. 

They  were  well  outside  the  village  limits,  and 
a  weary  tramp  yet  lay  before  them,  the  longer 
strides  of  the  men  taxing  the  fatigue  of  the  chil- 
dren, till  it  seemed  to  them  both  as  if  they  must 
fall  by  the  way.  That  terrible  silence,  too,  and 
the  firm  grip  of  her  arm,  made  Kate  wonder  if 
Mr.  Jones  had  suddenly  become  a  constable  in  fact, 


58  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

and  if  she  were  the  first  victim  to  be  arrested. 
Once  she  wriggled  herself  free  from  her  captor's 
hand,  only  to  find  herself  again  secured  and  even 
more  rigidly. 

As  for  poor  Montgomery,  the  pain  and  confu- 
sion had  returned,  and  he  could  think  of  nothing 
save  that  tormenting  headache.  His  temple  was 
swollen  and  throbbing,  and  the  one  idea  he  still  re- 
tained was  a  longing  for  rest.  It  seemed  to  him 
that  he  had  been  hurried  and  tramping  along  ever 
since  he  was  born.  That  never  had  he  done  a  sin- 
gle thing  besides  lifting  one  heavy  foot  after  an- 
other and  planting  each  a  bit  farther  along  that 
glaring  road.  The  lanterns  bobbed  about  outra- 
geously, as  if  they  were  trying  to  make  him  more 
dizzy  still;  and  he  scarcely  knew  when  they  en- 
tered the  now  deserted  village  street  and  came  to 
a  halt  at  Miss  Maitland's  gate. 

There,  he  fancied,  some  women  rushed  out  and 
grabbed  Katharine,  for  he  dimly  saw  her  borne 
away  into  the  house  where  more  dazzling  lights 
were  gleaming.  To  avoid  their  bewildering  rays 
he  closed  his  eyes  a  moment ;  and  when  he  opened 
them  again  he  found  himself  being  carried  swiftly 
homeward  in  Moses'  strong  arms.  He  being 
carried  !  like  one  of  Mis'  Turner's  babies !  More 
ignominy  still.  As  if  his  having  been  coddled 
and  wept  over  by  a  strange  little  girl  hadn't  been 
mortifying  enough.     But  his  own  voice  sounded 


FOXES'   GULLY  59 

queer  to  him  as  lie  tried  to  say,  with  unstammer- 
ing  distinctness  and  dignity: 

"  You  —  needn't  carry  me  n-n-none,  ITn-un- 
uncle  Mose.  What  you  doin'  it  for?  Put  me 
d-d-down !  " 

The  other  two  men  had  vanished,  and  there  was 
nobody  to  hear  Uncle  Moses'  tender,  troubled 
answer : 

"  Why,  you  poor  little  shaver,  lie  still.  I  don't 
know  what's  happened  ye,  nor  what  sort  of  scrape 
you've  been  in.  You  an'  that  t'other  one,  who's 
come  to  turn  things  topsyturvy.  But  betwixt  the 
pair  of  you  you've  nigh  druv  two  old  women  crazy, 
and  set  the  whole  village  a-teeter.  Just  because  I 
walked  through  it  ringin'  a  bell  an'  cryin',  like 
any  respectable  constable  would  have  done  if  I'd 
been  one,  and  this  'most  makes  me  feel  I  am,  just 
cryin'  :  '  Child  lost !  Boy  lost !  Girl  lost !  ' 
and  a  couple  the  neighborin'  men  j'inin'  in  the 
search,  with  our  lanterns  lit,  sence  we  didn't 
know  what  sort  of  a  hole  or  ditch  you  might  fell 
into  —  " 

"  F-F-Foxes'  Gully !  "  exclaimed  Montgomery, 
no  longer  resisting  the  relief  of  walking  on  some- 
body else's  feet,  so  to  speak. 

Uncle  Moses  stopped  short,  amazed  and 
alarmed.     "What?     What's  that  you  say?" 

"  F-f-fell  down  it.  An'  she  come  to  say  she 
was  8-s-8-8or-ry." 

"  And  wasn't  killed  ?     Well  now,  and  forever 


60  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

after,  I'll  believe  in  guardeen  angels !  Fell  down 
it  an'  wasn't  killed!  But  what  made  ye? 
Hadn't  you  any  sense  ?  Why,  there's  been  more'n 
a  half-dozen  cattle  killed  in  that  plaguey  hollow 
sence  I  can  remember.  Yet  you  wasn't.  Well, 
I'm  glad  of  it,"  and  though  this  seemed  a  very 
mild  expression  of  his  satisfaction,  the  sudden 
squeeze  which  Moses  gave  his  burden  emphasized 
it  sufficiently. 

For  a  few  minutes  neither  spoke  again,  then 
Monty  suddenly  asked :  "  How  many  you  catch, 
Un-un-uncle  Mose  ?  " 

"  Enough  for  breakfast.  But  I  missed  ye, 
sonny,  I  missed  ye.  An'  I'm  real  glad  you 
wasn't  killed.  As  for  that  t'other  one,  I  declare, 
I  wish't  she  hadn't  come.  'Feared  like  Eunice 
would  lose  her  seventy  senses,  a-worryin'  lest  the 
child  take  cold  or  get  hurt  or  somethin'.  And 
there  she  has  landed  on  her  feet  sound  as  a  cat. 
Though  speakin'  of  cats.  Sir  Philip  has  had  the 
bout  of  his  life,  and  he  looks  pretty  peaked  to 
me.  But  here  we  are  to  home,  an'  your  grandma 
ain't  likely  to  scold  you  none  if  you  just  mention 
to  her  '  Foxes'  Gully.'  'Twas  one  of  the  Sturte- 
vant  calves  got  killed  there,  the  very  first  off,  an' 
she  will  remember.  As  for  me,  a  respectable  hired 
man,  kep'  out  of  my  bed  like  this  —  why,  sonny ! 
Soon's  you  get  over  it  I'll  teach  you  a  lesson  you'll 
remember !  " 

So,  still  grumbling  and  petting,  Moses  set  his 


FOXES'   GULLY  61 

burden  down  in  Madam  Sturtevant*s  presence, 
and  saw  her  open  her  lips  to  reprove  her  erring 
grandson,  then  as  suddenly  close  them  again  and 
strain  the  boy  to  her  heart,  while  her  stately 
figure  shook  like  an  aspen.  But  Moses  knew  the 
lady's  temperament  of  old,  and  how  her  alternate 
severity  and  indulgence  had  been  bad  for  the 
child  she  idolized,  and,  fearing  that  severity 
might  have  the  upper  hand  now,  when  it  was 
least  needed,  he  remained  long  enough  to  mention : 

"  Nothin'  much  the  matter  with  the  little 
shaver.  Madam,  only  he  fell  down  Foxes'  Gully, 
and  is  —  he's  sort  of  tuckered  out." 

Then  he  quietly  withdrew,  and  of  Montgomery 
Sturtevant  he  had  no  further  glimpse  during  what 
he  himself  termed  "  a  consid'able  spell." 

As  for  Katharine,  she  was  sound  asleep  long 
before  Moses  returned  from  Madam  Sturtevant' s. 
To  the  anxiety  and  reproof  with  which  she  had 
been  received,  she  had,  fortunately,  but  little  to 
say  beyond  the  statement  that,  "  I  went  to  apolo- 
gize, and  I  stayed  to  —  to  fish,  I  guess."  The 
relief  of  being  safe  indoors  again  was  all  she 
realized,  just  then,  and  she  submitted  to  being 
warmed,  blanketed,  and  dosed  with  hot  sage  tea, 
with  a  meek  humility  that  won  her  pardon. 

Indeed,  when  at  last  the  dark  curls  rested  on 
the  pillow,  and  the  childish  face  softened  in  slum- 
ber, she  looked  so  like  Aunt  Eunice's  lost  "  little 
John,"  that  the  lady  stooped  and  kissed  her  for 


62  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

his  sake.  But  she  confided  to  the  faithful  Widow 
Sprigg,  who  had  also  watched  and  waited: 

"  I'm  afraid,  Susanna,  that  our  peaceful  days 
are  over.  While  she  was  out  to-night,  and  I  knew 
not  where,  and  I  was  so  troubled  and  anxious, 
I  felt  that  it  would  be  wrong,  really  -vvrong  to 
burden  myself  with  such  a  charge.  For  years  her 
father  left  me  ignorant  of  how  his  life  was  pass- 
ing, and  it  seemed  to  me  he  had  no  right  to 
impose  the  care  of  his  daughter  upon  me,  just 
because  I  had  once  tried  to  be  good  to  him  and 
he  had  once  seemed  to  love  me.  And  I  knew  it 
would  be  hard  for  you  and  Moses,  too.  We're  all 
old  together ;  and  to  rear  another  child  —  such 
an  odd  child,  at  that  —  I  wonder,  is  it  right  ? " 

Now  it  so  chanced  that  old  Susanna  had  been 
entirely  won  by  the  manner  in  which  Kate  had 
chosen  to  be  undressed  and  tended  by  the  servant 
rather  than  the  statelier  mistress.  Also,  in  the  old 
days  when  "  Johnny "  had  been  with  them, 
though  the  aunt  had  loved  she  had,  also,  reproved 
him ;  but  childless  Susanna,  whose  own  little  son 
had  died,  simply  loved  and  never  reproved.  She 
now  answered,  promptly: 

"  Yes,  Eunice  Maitland,  it's  as  right  as  right. 
She  wouldn't  have  been  sent  if  she  hadn't  been 
meant,  would  she?  And  she's  the  cut  an'  dried 
image  of  her  own  pa,  bless  him.  Send  her  off? 
Course  you'll  do  nothin'  o'  the  kind.  If  you  do, 
I'll  leave,  an'  you  can  get  somebody  else  to  take 


FOXES'    GULLY  63 

my  place.  So  there,  that's  my  say-so,  an'  you're 
welcome  to  it." 

At  the  thought  of  Katharine's  mobile  little  face 
being  a  "  cut  and  dried  image  "  of  anybody  Miss 
Eunice  smiled,  and  her  perplexity  vanished  —  for 
the  time,  at  least.  Then,  hearing  the  kitchen  door 
unclose,  she  remarked: 

"  Well,  I  hear  Moses  coming  in,  and  we  three 
old  people  must  get  to  rest.  I  am  surely  obliged 
to  you  for  the  help  and  comfort  you  are  to  me, 
Susanna,  and  to  Moses,  too.  We'll  do  the  best 
we  can,  and  day  by  day." 

"  Certain,  Eunice.  That's  the  way  to  live, 
an'  all's  well  'at  ends  well,  as  we  hope  she  will  — 
this  little  orphant  thrust  upon  us  without  no 
druther  of  our  own,  an'  a  bad  beginnin'  gen'ally 
makes  a  good  ending ;  an'  I  'low  I'd  best  take  one 
more  peek  into  the  sittin'-room  chamber,  afore  I 
go  to  bed  myself.  Good  night.  Don't  worry. 
I've  fixed  fish-cakes  for  breakfast." 

With  which  comforting  assurance  for  the  mor- 
row, the  Widow  Sprigg  took  herself  out  of  the 
room,  and  quiet  fell  upon  the  old  home. 


CHAPTER    V. 

CHESTNUTS    AND    GOLD    MINES 

"  May  I  help  ?  I  think  I  could  do  that.  It 
doesn't  look  hard,"  said  Katharine,  wandering 
into  the  kitchen  where  Susanna  was  seeding  rai- 
sins —  more  raisins  than  the  girl  had  ever  seen 
together,  save  at  a  grocer's  counter.  "  What  are 
you  doing  it  for  ?  " 

"  Fruit-cake.  For  Thanksgivin'  an'  Christmas. 
I  ought  to  of  done  it  long  ago,  but  the  weather 
kep'  so  warm,  an'  one  thing  another's  hendered. 
I'm  all  behind  with  everything  this  fall,  seems  if. 
I've  got  to  make  my  soft  soap  yet,  and  —  Laws, 
child,  what  do  you  lug  that  humbly  dog  all  round 
with  you  for?  A  beast  as  ugly  favored  as  he  is 
ought  to  do  his  own  walkin',  and  would,  if  he 
belonged  to  me." 

"  That's  just  why,  I  suppose.  Because  he 
'  belongs.'  And  because  he  isn't  old.  Not  so 
very.    He  isn't  gray,  anyway." 

The  Widow  Sprigg  looked  over  her  spectacles 
and  saw  such  a  dejected  face  that  she  immediately 

64 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       65 

suggested  caraway  cookies.  A  delicacy  which 
had  used  to  bring  smiles  to  "  .Johnny's  "  counte- 
nance, even  after  he  had  suffered  that  worst  of  all 
boyish  trials,  —  a  "  lickin',"  —  and  if  there  was 
anything  in  heredity  should  restore  cheer  to  the 
heart  of  "  Johnny's  "  daughter. 

"  No,  thank  you.  But  I'd  like  to  help.  I  shall 
—  shall  burst  if  I  don't  do  something  mighty 
soon,"  said  Kate,  excitedly.  "  I  am  hungry,  but 
it's  for  folks,  not  cookies.  And  why  do  you  make 
cake  for  Christmas  now  when  it's  forever  and  ever 
before  it  will  come  ?  " 

"  'Tain't  so  much  for  Christmas.  Marsden 
folks  don't  set  no  great  store  by  any  other  holiday 
than  Thanksgivin'.  Another  why  is  that  fruit- 
cake ain't  fit  to  put  in  a  body's  mouth  afore  it's 
six  seven  months  old  at  the  least.  This  here 
won't  be  worth  shucks,  but  Eunice  says  better 
late  'n  never,  an'  if  it  ain't  ripe  then  t'will  be 
for  Easter.  We  never  used  to  hear  tell  of  Easter, 
here  in  Marsden,  till  late  years.  Though  Madam, 
she  always  kep'  it.  She's  met  with  a  change  of 
heart,  however,  sence  she  became  a  Sturtevant, 
an'  I'd  ruther  you  wouldn't  mention  it,  as  comin' 
from  me,  but  — "  here  Susanna  leaned  forward 
and  whispered,  sibilantly  —  "  they  say  she  used 
to  be  a  Catholic  when  she  was  a  girl!  Nobody 
lays  it  up  ag'in  her,  an'  folks  pertend  they've 
forgot  it ;  and  if  there  is  a  good  Christian  goin',  I 
'low  it's  Madam  Elinor  Sturtevant     Your  Aunt 


66  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

Eunice  —  though  she  ain't  your  real  aunt  at  all, 
only  third  cousin  once  removed  —  she  was  prom- 
ised to  Schuyler  Sturtevant,  Madam's  husband's 
brother,  but  he  was  killed  out  on  a  fox-hunt,  an' 
she  ain't  never  married  nobody  sence.  That's 
one  why  she  an'  Madam  are  such  good  friends, 
most  like  sisters ;  as  they  would  have  been  hadn't 
things  turned  out  different.  But  there,  my  suz ! 
Don't  Stan'  there  lookin'  so  wishful.  Put  the  dog 
in  the  lean-to  an'  shut  the  door.  There's  a  strong 
air  comes  through  it  an'  I  feel  it,  settin'  still. 
Then  you  can  tie  my  check  apern  over  your 
white  frock.  Don't  you  never  wear  no  other 
kind  of  clothes,  Katy?  'Cause  I  don't  know 
who'll  do  your  washin'  an'  ironin',  if  you  don't." 

Having  finished  a  certain  portion  of  the  raisins, 
Susanna  rose,  washed  her  hands  and  tied  the 
apron  around  Katharine's  neck,  bringing  the 
strings  forward  under  the  arms  with  such  firm- 
ness that  the  band  choked  the  girl,  and  made  a 
puffy  blouse  of  the  gingham.  The  whole  arrange- 
ment was  so  uncomfortable  that  it  was  promptly 
taken  off  and  hung  upon  its  nail. 

"  I  can't  endure  that,  you  know.  If  I  must 
wear  an  apron,  like  a  coon,  I'll  have  one  that 
fits.  Why  do  I  need  it,  anyway  ?  This  dress  is 
only  white  pique,  and  wears  like  iron.  I  heard 
stepmother  say  so  when  she  gave  it  to  the  dress- 
maker. She  never  bought  me  anything  but 
piques   and  ducks   and  things  that  would   stand 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       67 

wearing  without  tearing.  I  mean  —  May  I  do 
this  many  ? " 

Susanna  fairly  snatched  the  dish  away  and 
shook  her  helper's  fingers  free  from  the  cluster 
of  raisins  she  had  lifted,  exclaiming: 

"  Why,  I  am  surprised  at  you,  Katharine  Mait- 
land !  You  takin'  a  bath  every  mornin',  in  cold 
water,  too,  an'  keepin'  yourself  so  tidy  all  the 
time,  to  go  an'  stun  raisins  after  handlin'  a  dog! 
Wash  'em,  an'  clean  your  nails  with  this  pin,  an' 
tie  that  apern  back  —  loose  if  you  want  —  but 
wear  it  you  nmst,  or  I  won't  be  responsible  for 
no  smutch  you  get  on  you.  Here's  your  basin  for 
the  hull  ones ;  an'  here's  an  earthen  bowl  for  them 
'at's  done,  an'  a  penknife  to  do  'em  with.  I 
declare !  It's  more  work  to  get  you  ready  to 
'  help  '  than  'twould  be  to  do  it  all  myself." 

Katharine's  spirits  rose.  Though  she  blushed 
at  the  reprimand  for  untidiness,  a  kind  of  reproof 
she  seldom  deserved,  she  was  so  accustomed  to 
corrections  that  she  scarcely  listened  to  any,  and 
sprang  to  a  seat  on  the  end  of  tlie  great  table  with 
an  outburst  of  rollicking  "  rag-time  "  song. 

Safe  to  say  that  that  sort  of  music  had  never 
before  been  heard  within  the  dignified  walls  of 
that  old  mansion,  and  though  Susanna  was  de- 
lighted to  see  "  Johnny's  girl "  happy  again,  she 
was,  also,  somewhat  shocked. 

"Why  —  why,  Katy!  What's  that  you're 
saying?     Don't  sound  like  reg'lar  English.     Not 


68  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

like  'Old  Lang  Syne,'  nor  'The  Old  Oaken 
Bucket/  nor  '  Send  Eound  the  Bowl,'  —  nor  — 
My  suz,  child !     What  be  you  doin'  ?  " 

"  Just  '  Sendin'  Round  the  Bowl,'  since  you 
like  it !  "  cried  Kate,  hilariously  spinning  the 
receptacle  which  had  been  given  her  for  the 
"  stunned  raisins "  across  the  table  to  where 
Susanna  sat ;  then  adding,  mischievously,  "  And 
that's  the  first  time  that  I  knew  that  '  Old  Lang 
Syne '  was  good  English ;  I  thought  it  was 
Scotch.  As  for  '  rag-time,'  all  papa's  friends  said 
I  could  do  it  excellently  well.  You  see,  I  was 
brought  up  with  the  coons  and  can  mimic  them 
easily.  And  you  should  see  me  do  a  cake-walk. 
I  will  after  I've  helped  you  awhile." 

Susanna  looked  rather  foolish  at  being  herself 
set  right.  She  had  never  aspired  to  much  literary 
knowledge,  but  she  did  know  that  the  words 
Katharine  had  sung  were  senseless,  though  they 
might  sound  funny.  To  cover  her  annoyance  she 
demanded,  rather  crisply: 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  coon  '  and  '  duck  '  ? 
Your  pa  always  had  odd  notions,  but  I  never 
'lowed  his  daughter'd  be  raised  with  coons  and 
ducks  and  animals  of  that  natur'.  I  give  him 
credit  for  some  sense,  even  if  he  did  paint  pictures 
for  a  living." 

Katharine's  eyes  flashed,  then  softened  till  they 
were  on  the  verge  of  tears,  and  she  announced 
with  a  finality  that  brooked  no  contradiction: 


CHESTNUTS  AND   GOLD   MINES       69 

"  My  father  Was  the  sensiblest,  cleverest,  dear- 
est gentleman  that  ever  lived.  If  I  didn't  come 
*  up  '  as  I  was  '  brought '  it  wasn't  his  fault.  And 
I'd  rather  not  talk  about  him  —  not  yet.  Not 
to-day.  '  Coons  '  are  the  colored  people.  Balti- 
more's full  of  them.  They're  our  servants.  Step- 
mother says  they're  worthless,  nowadays,  and  I 
know  she  was  always  changing  them.  But 
they're  the  only  kind  we  have  down  there.  We 
couldn't  get  nice  white  ones  like  you.  Why  — 
what's  the  matter  ?  " 

The  Widow  Sprigg  had  risen  very  suddenly. 
Her  face  had  flushed  and  a  glitter  come  into  the 
eyes  behind  the  big  spectacles,  while  her  lips 
had  closed  with  a  sort  of  cluck.  Leaning  across 
the  table,  she  demanded : 

"  Give  me  that  bowl,  please.  I  don't  need  no 
more  your  help." 

Katharine  extended  the  bowl,  as  desired,  her 
own  face  clouding  again  at  sight  of  the  other's 
darkened  one.  And  she  fairly  jumped  as  the 
housekeeper  asked: 

"  Where's  the  raisins  ?  " 

"  Oh !  the  raisins  ?  Why  —  I  hadn't  begun 
yet.  I  ate  the  few  I  seeded.  I'll  begin  now.  I 
can  work  right  smart  if  I  try." 

"  Huh !  go  clean  yourself  an'  clear  out.  I  like 
to  have  my  kitchen  to  myself." 

Kate  leaped  from  the  table,  having  that  odd 
homesickness  stealing  over  her  again,  and  as  much 


70  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

to  dispel  her  own  gloom  as  to  keep  her  word, 
which  she  never  broke  if  she  could  possibly  help  it, 
she  cake-walked  down  the  long  kitchen  with  the 
gravest  of  faces  and  the  most  ludicrous  of  gestures. 
Down  and  back,  down  and  back,  head  thrown 
sidewise  over  her  shoulder,  body  bent  at  an 
angle  which  threatened  a  tumble  backwards,  and 
her  feet  alternately  tossing  the  engulfing  apron 
high  on  this  side,  then  on  that,  and  now  become 
utterly  oblivious  of  Susanna  in  her  earnestness 
to  distinguish  herself  —  the  girl  seemed  the 
absurdest  creature  it  had  ever  been  the  house- 
keeper's lot  to  see. 

She  still  felt  insulted  by  Katharine's  term  of 
"  servant,"  but  could  not  repress  a  smile,  and 
turned  into  the  pantry  to  hide  that  telltale  weak- 
ness. 

Looking  in  through  that  same  pantry  window, 
his  mouth  agape,  his  eyes  t^vinkling,  was  her 
housemate  and  natural  enemy,  Moses.  Hitherto 
he  had  taken  slight  notice  of  the  small  new 
member  of  the  household,  and  Kate  had  been 
rather  afraid  of  him.  It  would,  therefore,  be 
killing  two  birds  with  one  stone,  or  punishing 
two  annoying  people  at  one  time,  to  pair  them 
off  together,  thought  Susanna,  remarking: 

"  Well,  Mr.  Jones,  when  you  get  done  staring 
at  the  monkey-shines  of  that  young  one  you  can 
just  take  her  in  charge  a  spell.  Goin'  to  the 
wood-lot,  ain't  ye  ?  " 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       71 

"  You  know  I  be.  Said  so  at  breakfast,  didn't 
I?  Silly  women  always  do  have  to  have  idees 
druv  into  their  heads,  like  nails,  'fore  they  can 
clinch  'em.  Eunice  'lowed  that  we'd  ought  to 
have  a  lot  more  small  sticks  chopped,"  answered 
the  man  who  managed  the  estate  but  was  pre- 
sumably managed  himself  by  Miss  Maitland. 
He  had  his  axe  over  his  shoulder,  and  had  merely 
stopped  at  the  pantry  window,  kept  open  for  his 
benefit,  to  take  a  drink  from  the  pail  of  butter- 
milk which  stood  there. 

"  Well,  Eunice  has  gone  down  to  Madam's. 
And  I've  no  time  to  bother,  and  you'll  have  to 
take  her  'long  with  ye.  If  she  ain't  under  some- 
body's eye  no  tellin'  what'll  happen.  Harm  of 
some  kind,  sure's  you're  born." 

Moses  was  about  to  retort  and  decline,  but  a 
second  glance  at  the  child,  who  had  now  finished 
her  cake-walk  and  was  listening  to  her  elders, 
reminded  him  that,  as  yet,  he  had  heard  no  details 
of  that  night's  escapade  when  his  beloved  Monty 
had  so  wonderfully  come  out  safe  from  peril  of 
death.  This  had  been  some  days  before,  and 
rumor  had  it  that  the  lad  was  still  confined  a 
prisoner  in  his  chamber.  Whether  because  of 
real  illness  or  for  punishment,  nobody  knew,  nor 
dared  anybody  question  the  dignified  Madam. 
Eunice  had  heard  the  rumor  that  morning  and 
had  immediately  gone  to  see  her  friend  and  offer 
her  own  service  as  nurse,  should  nursing  be  neces- 


72  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

sarj.  Therefore,  it  was  more  to  please  himself 
than  oblige  Susanna,  that  he  called  through  the 
window : 

"  Sissy,  do  you  like  chestnuts  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  love  them  !  Why  ?  And  please,  please 
don't  call  me  '  Sissy.'  It  makes  me  feel  so  silly. 
My  name  is  Katharine  Maitland,  though  at 
home  —  "  there  came  a  little  catch  in  her  throat, 
which  nobody  else  observed  —  "they  used  to  call 
me  '  Kitty  Quixote,'  "  answered  the  girl,  run- 
ning to  the  window,  and  looking  through  the  half- 
closed  blind  to  the  hired  man. 

"  Hm-m.  Ke-ho-ta.  Kehota  ?  Kee-ho-tee  ? 
Why,  I  thought  I  knew  the  Maitland  family,  root 
an'  branch,  twists  an'  turns  an'  ramifications,  but 
I  never  heerd  tell  of  a  Keehotey  amongst  'em. 
Not  even  'mongst  their  wives'  folks,  nuther. 
Your  own  ma  was  a  Woodley,  and  your  pa's 
second  was  a  Snowball,  Eunice  says,  so  how 
happens  —  " 

"  Oh,  you  dear,  funny  old  fellow !  Quixote 
wasn't  any  of  our  folks,  but  a  fiction-y  man,  who 
was  always  doing  chivalrous  things  in  the  wrong 
place,  or  where  there  was  no  occasion,  as  papa 
said  —  just  like  me.  Wait  till  I  come,  please. 
I'll  put  on  my  hat  and  jacket  and  be  back  in 
a  minute.  For  I've  guessed  what  you  mean  about 
liking  chestnuts.  I'm  to  go  to  the  wood-lot  with 
you  and  gather  them  for  myself.     And  I  never, 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       73 

never,  never  in  all  my  life  gathered  chestnuts ! 
I've  just  bought  them  from  the  stands." 

Away  she  flew,  leaving  Susanna  rather  doubtful 
of  the  success  of  her  intended  punishment.  From 
present  appearances  Katharine  was  going  to  enjoy 
a  morning  in  the  woods  with  Moses  far  better 
than  she  would  have  done  in  the  kitchen  seeding 
raisins. 

"  An'  she  must  have  et  as  much  as  two  whole 
bunches,  even  in  that  little  spell.  So,  after  all, 
it's  a  good  thing  for  the  cake,  'lowin'  't  we  want 
to  have  it  rich  in  fruit,  that  she  is  goin'.  But 
Eunice  will  have  to  see  about  her  clothes.  The 
idee !  Wearin'  white  every  day  same  as  if  it  was 
Sunday  in  the  summer-time.  She  told  Eunice 
that  her  stepmother  thought  white  was  the  sensi- 
blest,  for  it  would  wash  and  bile,  and  she  always 
needed  bilin'.  But  she  looks  real  peart,  and  sort 
of  different  set-up  from  Marsden  girls  in  that 
little  blue  flannel  suit  she  wore  to  come  in.  Dress 
an'  coat  an'  hat  all  the  same  color,  an'  fittin'  her's 
if  she'd  been  run  into  'em,  yet  easy-loose,  too,  an' 
not  a  bit  of  trimming  on  anything,"  continued 
Widow  Sprigg  with  herself,  having  none  other 
present  with  whom  to  commune;  and,  as  Kath- 
arine reappeared,  garbed  in  the  same  blue  coat 
and  hat,  with  her  short  dainty  skirts  showing 
below  the  coat  and  her  face  now  glowing  with 
anticipation,  remarking  aloud :  "  Well,  your 
8tep-ma  may  not  have  been  any  great  shakes  for 


74  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

pleasantness,  but  she  did  manage  to  make  you 
look  real  neat." 

"  Oh,  she  had  beautiful  taste !  Everybody 
said  that.  When  she  was  dressed  to  go  out  her- 
self she  always  looked  so  just  right  that  nobody 
could  tell  what  at  all  she  wore;  and  that,  papa 
said,  was  the  perfection  of  dressing.  Indeed,  do 
you  suppose  that  my  father,  an  artist,  could  have 
married  a  person  who  would  offend  his  eye  all  the 
time  ?     Why,  what  is  that  for,  Susanna  ?  " 

While  Katharine  had  been  discussing  her  step- 
mother, the  widow  had  been  filling  a  quaint, 
old-fashioned,  tight  covered  basket  with  caraway 
cookies  and  a  red  apple.  The  basket  had  a  wreath 
of  flowers  painted  on  its  sides  and  another  on  its 
cover.  It  was  carried  by  two  slender  handles, 
and  was  unlike  any  which  Kate  had  ever  seen. 

"  There,  deary,  that  is  a  lunch  to  eat  whilst 
you're  in  the  woods ;  crisp  air  makes  a  body 
hungry.  Moses'll  show  you  where  the  spring  is, 
and  there's  a  gourd  dipper  hangs  by  it  to  drink  out 
of.  But  take  dreadful  care  the  basket.  It  was 
your  own  pa's  meetin'  one." 

"  My  father's  '  meeting  one.'  What  was  that  ? 
and  how  fearfully  old  it  must  be.  'Cause  he  ran 
away  when  he  was  a  little  boy,  only  a  year  or  so 
older  than  I  am  now." 

"  He  was  old  enough  to  have  had  more  sense, 
and  so're  you.  A  '  meetin'-basket '  was  a  basket  to 
take  to  meetin',  course.     What  else  you  suppose? 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       75 

We  didn't  have  two  three  hours  betwixt  times, 
them  days.  We  went  in  the  morning  and  stayed 
till  the  afternoon  service  was  over.  We  took  our 
dinners  with  us  an'  et  'em  on  the  graves  in  the 
graveyard  back  the  church.  Moses  an'  Eunice  an' 
me  gen'ally  took  all  we  needed  in  the  big  willow, 
but  the  childern  liked  their  own  by  themselves. 
They  used  to  eat  in  the  hollow  below  the  grave- 
yard, and  if  any  of  'em  got  too  noisy,  or  played 
games  wasn't  Sabbath  ones,  one  the  deacons 
or  head  men  would  go  down  an'  stop  'em. 
Oh,  childern  was  raised  right  in  them  days,  an' 
grown  folks,  too  !  " 

This  was  all  very  interesting,  and  Katharine 
received  the  old  round  basket,  which  her  dead 
father's  boyish  hands  must  have  treated  gently, 
indeed,  to  have  left  it  so  well  preserved,  with  a 
reverent  feeling  that  he  must  be  there  and  see 
her.  She  hoped  he  did.  She  wanted  him  to  know 
that  she  was  back  in  his  old  home,  following  the 
haunts  which  he  had  loved,  knowing  the  very 
same  people  who  had  cared  for  him.  She  won- 
dered, as  many  an  older  person  has  wondered, 
if  he  did  know,  and  she  put  the  question  eagerly 
to  Susanna,  who  was  herself  so  old  and  should, 
therefore,  be  so  wise. 

"  Oh,  Widow  Sprigg !  Do  you  believe  he  can 
see  me,  does  know,  is  glad  ?  Do  you  suppose  that 
right  now,  while  I  hold  this  basket,  his  basket,  up 
high  toward  the  sky,  careful  and  loving  and  not 


76  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

afraid,  he  is  looking  down  and  loving,  too  ?     Do 


you 


Susanna  pushed  her  spectacles  very  high, 
indeed,  that  she  might  better  observe  this  strange 
child  who  now  confronted  her  with  gleaming  eyes 
and  that  exalted  expression ;  and  the  face  startled 
her.  She  was  not  much  used  to  children,  and  this 
one  was  of  a  sort  so  novel  that  she  made  one  un- 
comfortable. She'd  have  given  "  Johnny's  girl  " 
the  old  egg-basket  instead  of  this  "  meeting  "  one, 
could  she  have  foreseen  results.  But  she  could 
and  did  bring  the  girl  out  of  the  clouds  with  the 
exclamation : 

"  My  suz !  You're  enough  to  give  a  body  the 
creeps.  All  I  meant  was  that  Johnny  was  a  good 
boy  and  took  care.  If  you  want  to  be  like  him 
you'll  take  care,  too.  When  he  didn't  take  care, 
it  was  Moses'  business  to  lick  him,  an'  if  you  keep 
him  much  longer  at  that  lane  gate,  he'll  feel  like 
lickin'  you,  too.     So,  oil  with  you." 

Katharine  lowered  the  basket.  Also,  lowered 
her  gaze  from  the  ceiling  it  had  seemed  to  pierce 
till  it  rested  on  the  old  woman's  face.  What  she 
saw  there  was  something  very  different  from  what 
the  harsh  words  had  suggested,  and,  with  an  im- 
pulse of  affection,  she  threw  her  arms,  basket  and 
all,  about  Susanna's  neck  and  kissed  her  ecstatic- 
ally. 

Poor  Widow  Sprigg  caught  her  breath  and 
gasped  it  back  again  before  her  surprise  allowed 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       77 

her  to  say :  "  There,  there,  deary,  run  along. 
Don't  keep  Moses  waitin'  a  minute  longer.  He'll 
be  terrible  cross.  Yes,  you  can  take  Punchy. 
I'd  ruther  you'd  take  him  'an  not,  for  Sir  Philip 
looks  peakeder  'n  ever  to-day.  The  very  sight  o' 
that  humbly  dog  'pears  to  make  him  sick.  After 
you've  et  your  cookies  you  can  put  your  chestnuts 
in  the  basket  to  fetch  'em  home  —  if  you  get 
any." 

Moses  had  lost  his  patience,  as  was  to  be  ex- 
pected, but  he  soon  regained  good  nature  while 
Katharine  related  to  him  all  that  her  father  had 
once  told  her  of  the  famous  Don  Quixote  for 
whom  he  had  nicknamed  her.  Then,  in  turn,  he 
pointed  out  to  her  the  old  meeting-house  and 
graveyard,  long  since  disused,  where  the  Mars- 
denites  had  repaired  to  take  their  Sunday  lunch. 

"  But  it  was  so  —  so  funny !  So  absurd,  so 
sort  of  —  of  ghastly,  wasn't  it?  But  what  a 
perfectly  glorious  place  for  a  hallowe'en  party  — 
if  there  was  anybody  to  give  a  party  to.  I  wish 
there  was  somebody  to  play  with.  Uncle  Moses." 

Moses  ignored  the  wish.  He  was  not  anxious 
that  Katharine  should  enlarge  her  acquaintance, 
which  would  mean  more  trouble  for  all  concerned. 
He  merely  continued  to  discourse  upon  the  ancient 
customs,  of  how  not  only  did  the  people  bring  their 
dinners  to  the  church,  but  the  mothers  their 
babies,  with  rocking-chairs  furnished  galore  by 
the  congregation,  and  ranged  in  the  roomy  vesti- 


78  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

bule.  There  the  mothers  could  sway  their  off- 
spring gently  to  and  fro  without  losing  their 
own  religious  privileges  or  disturbing  anybody. 

Kate  listened  in  silence  till  a  bend  of  the  road 
hid  the  meeting-house  from  view,  then  exclaimed: 

"  I  can  see  the  whole  picture.  I  mean  to  paint 
it  when  I  grow  up.  But  I  shall  give  the  babies 
cherubic  faces,  like  the  old  masters,  because  I 
suppose  most  of  them  are  angels  now.  I  hope 
they  know  I'm  thinking  about  them,  and  I  wonder 
if  papa  sees  any  of  them  there,  up  in  heaven. 
What  do  you  think  ?  " 

Even  as  Susanna  had  done,  the  hired  man 
stared  at  Katharine,  saying: 

"  I  think  —  I  don't  know  what  I  do  think ! 
I  think  I  know  some  of  them  babies  that  grew  up 
to  be  anything  but  angels.  If  they'd  been  made 
into  angels  a  little  earlier  in  their  lives  'twould 
ha'  been  better  for  Marsden,  an'  I  shouldn't  feel 
it  my  painful  duty  to  'rest  'enl  when  I  get  to  be 
constable  —  if  ever  I'm  elected,"  and  then  Moses 
sighed  so  profoundly  that  Katharine's  thoughts 
flew  from,  this  old-time  reminiscence  to  the 
present  day's  ambitions.  Slipping  her  hand 
softly  into  the  one  of  his  that  swung  at  his  side, 
she  gave  it  a  little  squeeze,  and  asked : 

"  Do  you  awfully  want  to  be  a  constable  ?  Just 
awfully.  Uncle  Mose  ?  " 

There  was  so  much  of  sympathy  in  the  small 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       79 

face    at  his  elbow   that   Mr.    Jones   was   caught 
unawares. 

"  Well,  '  Kittj  Keehoty,'  wild  horses  wouldn't 
have  drug  it  out  of  me  to  arybody  else;  but  I 
don't  mind  lettin'  on  to  you,  just  you,  that  I'd 
admire  to  be  one.  I'd  like  it  real  well.  But, 
that's  nuther  here  nor  there.  Likin'  things  an' 
havin'  'em  is  as  different  as  chalk  an'  cheese. 
An'  here  we  be  to  the  woods.  The  best  chestnut- 
trees  is  yender,  the  best  shellbarks  t'other  way. 
'Tain't  time  for  hickories  yet,  not  till  a  heavier 
frost  comes,  but  chestnuts  you've  got  to  get  early 
if  you  get  any  at  all.  The  squirrels  an'  boys  are 
smart  round  this  way.  Why,  'most  every  year 
they  gather  Eunice's  nuts  off"  her  own  trees,  then 
march  up  to  her  front  door  an'  sell  'em  to  her. 
Fact.  An'  the  silly  woman  only  laughs  an'  says 
she  don't  begrudge  'em  a  little  pocket-money.  An' 
she  don't  need.  Eunice  is  real  forehanded,  Eunice 
is;  and  does  seem  't  the  more  she  gives  away 
the  more  comes  in.  Now,  I'll  cut  a  saplin'-pole 
an'  thrash  a  tree  for  you.  Then,  whilst  I'm 
choppin'  down  in  that  clump  of  pines  over  there, 
you  can  be  pickin'  up  nuts.  Make  up  your  mind 
to  prick  your  fingers  with  the  burrs.  A  body  has 
to  fight  for  most  anything  worth  while." 

"  Oh,  if  I  only  had  somebody  to  pick  them  up 
with  me ! "  sighed  Kate,  as  she  fell  to  work. 
Then  her  thoughts  travelled  far  afield,  for  a  de- 
lightful notion  had  taken  possession  of  her,  and 


80  THE   BRASS   BOUND    BOX 

her  young  brain  was  teeming  with  a  scheme  so 
great  it  was  —  well,  it  was  fully  worthy  of  itself. 

Almost  unconsciously  she  gathered  the  fallen 
chestnuts,  scarcely  realizing  the  novelty  of  the 
task  so  absorbed  was  she  in  her  sudden  Quixotic 
project.  Yet,  as  she  groped  among  the  brown 
leaves  at  the  foot  of  her  tree,  her  fingers  came  in 
contact  with  something  wholly  different  from 
chestnuts  or  their  thorny  burrs.  It  was  hard 
as  a  stone,  yet  it  wasn't  a  stone.  It  was  half- 
buried  in  the  leaf-mold  and  moss,  though  the  rain 
of  the  previous  night  had  washed  it  free  in  one 
corner. 

That  corner  glistened  so  that  it  dazzled  the 
digger's  eyes,  and  she  exclaimed  aloud: 

"  Oh,  I've  found  a  gold  mine !  Right  here  in 
Aunt  Eunice's  woods.  I  must  get  this  great  piece 
of  gold  out  and  take  it  to  her.  And  I  won't  tell 
anybody,  not  anybody,  not  even  Uncle  Moses,  till 
I've  told  her.  For  whatever  is  in  her  woods  must 
be  hers,  of  course." 

Away  went  the  last  great  scheme,  which  had 
been  wholly  connected  with  Mr.  Jones  and  his 
aspirations  for  town  office ;  and  up  rose  another  far 
more  gigantic,  by  which  everybody  who  was  poor, 
''  everybody  in  the  whole  wide  world,"  should 
benefit.  For,  of  course,  the  mine  was  to  be  in- 
exhaustible, and  Aunt  Eunice  would  be  able  to 
give  away  money  hereafter  without  stint  or  meas- 
ure. 


CHESTNUTS   AND   GOLD   MINES       81 

If  only  she  could  get  out  that  first  great  shining 
lump  of  gold ! 

And  at  last  it  was  out,  yet,  after  all,  no  gold 
whatever.  Something  almost  as  splendid,  though, 
since  this  was  a  mystery.  A  mystery  with  a 
capital  M !  For  if  there  were  no  mystery  in  the 
matter  why  should  anybody  hide  that  strangely 
shaped,  glittering  brass  bound  box  beneath  a 
chestnut-tree  ? 


CHAPTEE   VI. 


THE    BKASS    BOUND    BOX 


A  MOMENT  later  Kate  had  sped  through  the 
wood  to  the  spot  where  Moses  was  chopping,  ex- 
claiming ; 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Jones,  I've  got  to  go  home,  back  to 
Aunt  Eunice's  right  away,  quick.  Is  there  a 
shorter  way  than  we  came,  or  can  I  find  that  by 
myself  ?     Please  tell  me,  quick,  quick !  " 

Moses  paused  in  his  work  and  looked  at  the 
girl  in  great  surprise.  !None  of  his  fishing-mates, 
if  given  such  a  chance  as  she  had,  would  have  gone 
home  till  driven  there;  for  the  chestnuts  had 
rattled  out  of  their  burrs  at  a  fine  rate  when  he 
had  threshed  the  trees,  and  it  was  impossible  that 
she  should  have  gathered  all  or  even  many. 

"Why,  little  Keehoty!  Tired  a'ready?  An' 
I  was  plannin',  by  an'  by,  to  make  a  speck  of  fire 
in  a  safe  place  I  know  an'  roast  some  the  nuts. 
Ever  et  hot  roast  chestnuts  out  in  the  woods  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  never !  Oh,  dear !  I'd  like  to.  It 
—  it  makes  me  terribly  hungry  to  hear  you  speak 

82 


THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX  83 

of  them,  but  —  I  must  go  home.  Something  has 
happened.  Something  so  important,  I  must,  I 
must.  Is  there  a  shorter  way?  And  if  I  go  by 
myself  shall  I  meet  a  tramp  ?  " 

"'Tramp!'  Bosh!  That's  Susanna's  fool- 
ishness put  into  your  head  a'ready.  I  only  wish 
I  could  see  a  tramp,  just  to  know  the  breed.  But 
what  is  it  so  important,  if  you  please  ?  " 

"  I  can't  tell  you." 

Moses  whistled.  "  That's  plump  spoke,  any- 
how. Why  can't  ye  ?  Are  you  sick  ?  Got  a  pain 
anywheres  ?  Pep'mints  are  good  for  the  stum- 
mick-ache,  an'  I  always  carry  a  few  in  my  pocket. 
See  ? "  said  the  kindly  old  man,  pulling  forth  a 
paper  bag  and  alluringly  displaying  its  pink  and 
white  contents. 

But  to  his  further  surprise  Katharine  declined 
the  "  pep'mints "  and  indignantly  denied  the 
stomach  ache,  declaring  that  she  must  go  home 
and  at  once,  and  asking  "  which  way  first." 

"  Foller  your  nose,  I  reckon,"  retorted  Mr. 
Jones,  rather  testily.  He  had  enjoyed  the  tale  of 
Don  Quixote,  had  taken  a  sudden  fancy  to 
Katharine,  had  discovered  that  she  knew  "  Oh, 
lots  and  lots  more  of  stories  just  as  delightful," 
and  had  intended  to  do  a  small  amount  of  chop- 
ping that  day,  but  a  large  amount  of  resting.  The 
forest  was  in  a  glory  of  color,  the  air  was  "  mild 
as  midsummer,"  and  in  his  capacious  pocket  he 
had  brought  his  "  tackle."    His  axe  would  furnish 


84  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

a  couple  of  rods,  and  Katharine  should  have  her 
first  lesson  at  angling  in  the  near-by  brook,  where 
trout  were  plentiful,  it  mattering  little  to  this 
embryo  constable  what  the  game  laws  were;  and 
it  would  have  amazed  him  to  learn  that  had  he 
been  in  office  he  would  have  had  to  fine  himself  as 
the  first,  chief,  and  habitual  trespasser.  Now  all 
this  pleasant  prospect  was  altered,  and  Moses 
"  never  liked  to  have  his  'rangements  upsot." 

"  Nor  do  I.  Oh,  dear !  The  more  you  talk 
the  more  I  want  to  stay,  and  the  very  more  I 
mustn't.  Good-by,  I'm  going.  You  can  have  the 
caraway  cakes  and  the  red  apple,  and  please, 
please   take   care  my  father's   *  meetin'-basket.'  " 

But  he  laid  a  detaining  hand  upon  her  arm, 
and  demanded: 

"  First  tell  me  what  you've  got  under  your 
Jacket !  " 

At  her  mention  of  the  "  meeting-basket "  he 
had  glanced  across  to  the  chestnut-trees  and  had 
seen  that  precious  receptacle  carefully  hung  upon 
a  low  branch  out  of  harm's  way.  Yet  here  was 
the  girl,  hiding  something  beneath  her  long  blue 
coat,  and  acting  as  if  she  had  great  ado  to  keep  it 
there.  It  must  have  been  a  heavy,  slippery 
something,  because  all  the  while  she  talked  she 
kept  hitching  it  up  and  clenching  it  till  her 
knuckles  turned  white  under  the  strain. 

"  I  can't  tell  you,  please,"  was  the  exasperating 


THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX  85 

reply,  as  she  wriggled  her  arm  free  and  set  off  at 
a  swift  pace. 

Again  Moses  whistled,  but  now  in  disappoint- 
ment rather  than  surprise.  He  would  have 
stoutly  denied  that  he,  a  man,  was  possessed  of 
curiosity  such  as  he  attributed  wholly  to  "  silly 
women,"  yet  it  is  certain  that  he  suddenly  found 
the  beautiful  forest  a  disagreeable  place,  and 
reflected  that  it  was  his  duty  to  follow  the  young 
stranger. 

"  She's  queer  actin',  at  the  best,  an'  sharp  as  a 
razor;  but  what  caper  she's  up  to  now  beats 
me.  Eunice  ain't  to  home,  an'  Susanna  never  had 
sense.  If  there's  anything  goin'  on  there'd  ought 
to  be  a  man  'round  with  some  sort  of  judgment 
in  his  head.  Don't  know  what  need  there  is  for 
more  small  wood  bein'  cut,  anyway.  We've  got 
two  woodsheds  full  of  kindlin'  a'ready,  besides 
the  big  onfes  of  cord-wood  for  the  reg'lar  fires. 
We  could  stand  a  siege  an'  not  suffer,  though 
Eunice  never  does  feel  content  'less  she's  got 
fuel  enough  ahead  to  last  two  years.  Hm-m. 
It's  gettin'  too  hot  to  chop,  anyway.  Must  be 
Indian  summer  comin'  on,  though  I  claim  'tain't 
due  till  November.  Susanna,  now,  she  says 
October,  an'  Eunice,  she  calls  that  warm  spell  we 
always  have  the  first  the  winter  an  Indian  sum- 
mer. Seems  if  there  was  as  many  Indian  sum- 
mers as  there  was  folks,  most,  but  I  don't  care. 
It's  somethin'  or  other  warm  enough  to-day,  an' 


86  THE   BKASS   BOUND   BOX 

I'll  go  home.  I  can  sot  in  the  barn  an'  sort  apples. 
That  won't  be  a  heatin'  job,  an'  '11  give  me  a 
chance  to  have  an  eye  on  things.  Oh,  hum !  I 
wish  Monty  would  happen  along.  Strange!  how 
I  miss  that  worthless,  stutterin',  big-hearted  little 
shaver !  I  wouldn't  offer  to  take  him  fishin' 
more'n  once  without  bein'  took  up  on  my  word." 

His  cogitations  at  an  end,  his  belongings  se- 
cured, and  his  little-used  axe  again  over  his  shoul- 
der, Moses  went  down  to  the  chestnut-tree  and 
secured  the  "  meeting-basket."  But  he  was  sur- 
prised to  see  how  the  leaves  at  the  foot  of  it  had 
been  scattered  about,  and  that  there  was  a  hole  in 
the  ground  itself.  There  was  also  in  this  hole 
the  imprint  of  something  square  and  solid,  for  the 
moist  leaf -mold  still  retained  the  shape  of  the 
brass  bound  box,  and  heaped  at  one  side  were 
the  nuts  Kate  had  collected  ready  to  put  in  the 
basket  when  once  it  should  be  empty. 

"  Must  ha'  been  somethin'  '  important,'  sure 
enough,  or  she'd  never  have  left  them  nuts.  Well, 
I  guess  I  can  store  'em  in  my  pockets,  an'  I'll 
coax  her  secret,  whatever  'tis,  out  of  her  by  givin' 
them  back  to  her,"  mused  this  incurious  man. 

As  fast  as  she  could,  and  keeping  an  occasional 
glance  upon  certain  trees  she  remembered,  Kate 
made  her  way  back  through  the  wood.  But  it 
seemed  confusing  now  and  the  ground  rough. 
Coming  in  she  had  thought  the  ferns  and  fallen 
branches   "  mighty   pretty,"   but  going  out  they 


THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX  87 

hindered  her.  The  box,  too,  was  heavy  and  diffi- 
cult to  hold,  though  as  soon  as  she  was  out  of 
sight  of  Moses  she  took  it  from  beneath  her  coat 
and  balanced  it  upon  her  arm.  Then  she  laughed 
at  her  own  precaution,  thinking  how  foolish  she 
had  been  to  hide  it,  for,  of  course,  he  would  know 
about  it  eventually. 

"  Only  it  is  Aunt  Eunice's,  and  I  want  her  to 
see  it  first  of  all.  I  wonder  what  is  in  it.  And  I 
wish  it  wasn't  quite  so  heavy.  Can  it  be  filled 
with  gold  ?  or  diamonds,  maybe.  Oh,  if  it  were 
diamonds  —  think  !  Oh,  dear !  there  goes  my 
shoe-string  untied  again,  and  it  trips  me  up  so. 
I  must  stop  and  tie  it  and  see  if  I  am  going  right. 
Seems  as  if  I  ought  to  see  that  old  church  by  this 
time,  yet  the  trees  are  just  as  thick  as  ever  —  or 
thicker.  Now,  old  string,  I'll  knot  you  so  tight 
you'll  bother  me  no  more  till  I  go  to  bed." 

Placing  the  strangely  fashioned  box  or  casket 
carefully  on  a  large  stone,  Katharine  flung  her- 
self down  to  tie  her  shoe.  Which,  having  done, 
and  finding  her  position  restful,  it  was  natural 
that  her  imagination  should  dwell  upon  the  treas- 
ure she  had  found ;  and  once  at  her  day-dreams, 
Kate  was  very  apt  to  forget  other  things.  Nor 
did  she  rouse  from  her  reverie  till  somebody 
close  at  hand  demanded : 

"  I-I-I  say !     W-w-what's  that  ?  " 

Instantly  upon  her  feet  she  faced  the  intruder, 


88  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

vainly  trying  to  hide  with  her  short  skirts  the 
glittering  casket,  as  she  demanded,  in  return: 

"  How  dare  you  come  upon  a  person  that  way  ? 
Why  —  you  might  have  frightened  me  into  a  fit. 
I  don't  like  to  be  scared." 

"  Oh,  f-f -fudge !  I  saw  you  if  you  d-d-didn't 
see  me.    What  is  t-t-that  ?  " 

Katharine  coolly  sat  down  upon  the  casket 
and  thus  effectually  screened  it  from  view.  "  I 
thought  you  were  sick,  or  —  or  shut  up.  Aunt 
Eunice  went  to  see  if  you  needed  nursing." 

Montgomery  sat  down  beside  her.  The  small 
boulder  upon  which  she  had  placed  the  box  was 
round,  and  it  was  difficult  to  maintain  one's  posi- 
tion upon  it  without  slipping.  Doubly  difficult 
if  one  were  perched  upon  a  sharp-angled  cube, 
and  one's  pique  skirt  was  stiffly  starched.  He 
comprehended  the  situation  and  meant  to  be  upon 
the  spot  when  the  slipping  occurred.  He  really 
didn't  care  very  much  to  know  what  she  was  hid- 
ing, but  was  grateful  for  a  chance  to  tease  some- 
body. 

During  the  few  days  of  his  retirement  he  had 
not  enjoyed  that  privilege.  The  fact  was  that  it 
was  Alf aretta,  not  he,  who  had  been  ill ;  and 
that  he  had  been  promoted  —  or  degraded  —  to 
her  position  in  the  household.  It  all  depended 
upon  the  point  of  view;  his  grandmother  main- 
taining that  he  should  feel  proud  to  have  the 
chance  of  serving  her,  who  was  unable,  or  unac- 


THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX  89 

customed  to  serving  herself,  and  he  feeling  that  to 
be  tied  up  in  a  girl's  pinafore  and  with  bared 
arms  set  to  washing  dishes,  peeling  potatoes,  and 
scrubbing  floors  was  a  disgrace.  In  vain  did  the 
stately  old  gentlewoman  show  him  by  her  example 
that  one  could  cook  and  clean  and  still  be  dig- 
nified; her  grandson  remained  unconvinced  and 
rebellious.  He  didn't  believe  that  poor  Alfaretta 
was  sick.  He  knew  she  was  shamming  just  to 
get  out  of  her  work  and  make  him  do  it  for  her. 
And  as  for  his  being  set  to  carry  trays  to  a  bound- 
out  girl  from  the  almshouse  —  that  was  the 
bitterest  drop  in  his  cup  of  Woe.  He  had  been 
sternly  prohibited  from  "  hectoring "  the  little 
maid,  and  the  prohibition  sat  heavily  upon  him. 
So  heavily,  indeed,  that  no  matter  who  had 
crossed  his  path  when  he  was  again  liberated,  that 
person  was  doomed  to  suffer  what  Alfy  had  been 
spared. 

That  person  proved  to  be  "  Kitty  Quixote," 
never  more  worthy  of  her  name  than  as  she  sat 
in  the  forest  dreaming  marvellous  dreams  of  the 
future;  of  wrongs  to  be  righted,  of  poverty  ban- 
ished, and  all  dependent  upon  the  unknown 
contents  of  a  brass  bound  box.  Under  other  cir- 
cumstances she  would  have  rejoiced  to  see  Mont- 
gomery, as  the  only  young  creature  of  her  own 
species  yet  met  in  Marsden,  but  not  with  this 
wonderful  mystery  upon   her  mind.     When  he 


90  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

had  appropriated  a  full  half  of  her  boulder,  unin- 
vited, she  waited  a  moment,  then  icily  inquired: 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  " 

"  N-n-n-nowhere." 

"  That's  a  good  place.     When  ?  " 

"  Oh,  b-b-bime-by,"  answered  the  lad,  with 
easy  indifference. 

"  You  might  be  late,"  suggested  Katharine, 
sweetly,  yet  inwardly  longing  to  mimic  his  stam- 
mering speech. 

Then,  all  at  once,  she  began  to  slide.  There  had 
been  no  perceptible  movement  on  Montgomery's 
part.  Assuming  an  indifference  as  great  as  his 
own,  Katharine  had  leaned  forward  to  inspect  her 
second  shoe-string,  and  afterward  attempting  to 
regain  her  former  uprightness,  felt,  instead,  that 
she  was  slipping  downward.  She  landed  angrily 
upon  her  feet,  and,  facing  about,  she  upbraided 
him  as  a  "  rude,  unmannerly  boy." 

However,  the  mischief  was  done,  her  secret 
was  out.  Monty  forgot  his  desire  to  "  plague 
her "  in  his  surprised  curiosity.  Bending  over 
the  box  he  examined  it  critically,  and  finally 
announced : 

"  T-t-that's  the  most  b-b-beautifuUest  thing  I 
ever  saw.     W-where'd  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  Found  it.  But  it  isn't  mine.  It's  Aunt 
Eunice's,  and  I  think  you  are  horrid  mean.  I 
didn't  want  a  person  should  know  anything  about 
it  till  I  could  put  it  into  her  own  hands,  and  then 


THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX  91 

you  went  and  came.  Now  the  whole  charm  of  it 
it  gone.     Oh,  dear !  " 

Montgomery  ignored  her  unflattering  remarks, 
and,  lifting  the  casket,  exclaimed: 

"  H-h-h-heavy !  H-h-heavier  'n  lead.  What 
you  s-s-s-suppose  is  in  it  ?  Where'd  you  find  it  ? 
W-w-w-when  ?  " 

Since  secrecy  was  no  longer  possible,  Kate  was 
only  too  glad  to  tell  everything,  and  now  all  desire 
for  teasing  had  left  the  listener.  He  was  even 
ashamed  that  he  had  forced  the  girl  from  the  rock, 
though  glad  of  the  result,  and  in  another  instant 
both  tongues  were  busy  with  speculation  concern- 
ing the  astonishing  find. 

"  It's  so  queer.  It  has  no  opening  that  I  can 
see,  for  this  broad  band  around  the  middle  looks 
perfectly  smooth,  as  if  it  were  all  in  one  piece. 
The  band  won't  slip  down  nor  up.  The  comers, 
the  brass  tips,  don't  budge.  It's  a  perfect  cube  — 
let's  measure.  Yes.  Just  as  big  one  way  as 
another.  The  wood  is  as  fine  as  satin  and  looks 
as  if  it  had  been  polished  to  the  last  degree.  Do 
you  suppose  it  is  brass  or  gold  that  trims  it  ?  And 
where,  where  did  it  come  from  ?  The  earth  on 
it  was  so  fresh  I  don't  believe  that  it  had  been 
buried  but  a  little  while,  and  oh,  I'm  just  wild  to 
know  all  about  it.  Come  on.  Let's  go  home. 
You  may  carry  it  part  of  the  time.  But  don't 
drop  it.  Don't,  for  your  life !  "  chattered  the  girl, 
placing  the  box  in  Monty's  outstretched   palms 


92  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

and  anxiously  regarding  his  manner  of  holding 
it. 

His  face  was  a  study.  Boys,  in  general,  are 
supposed  to  be  intensely  practical  and  less  gifted 
with  imagination  than  girls,  but  this  is  a  mis- 
take. Youth  is  the  time  for  air-castle  building, 
and  whether  it  be  lad  or  lass  who  "  dreams " 
there  is  but  little  difference.  Poor  Monty! 
Unable  to  put  his  soaring  thoughts  into  speech 
as  his  companion  so  readily  could,  he  had  to  be 
content  with  just  thinking  them.  But  as  he 
turned  his  beautiful  eyes  upon  her  she  understood 
all  that  he  would  have  said  and  clapped  her  hands, 
crying  ecstatically: 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad !  You're  one  can  make-be- 
lieve everything  lovely,  too!  I  see  it.  What  fun 
we'll  have !  Let's  begin  at  once.  We're  in  the 
enchanted  forest.  We've  been  enchanted  our- 
selves. But  the  fairy  king  has  come  and  shown 
us  where  to  find  the  magic  treasure  that  will 
unlock  the  whole  world  for  us  and  make  us  back 
into  the  real  prince  and  princess  that  we  are  all 
the  time,  though  other  people  don't  know  it.  He 
has  given  us  the  magic  box  with  the  key  in  it,  only 
he  has  forgotten  to  tell  us  how  to  open  it.  We  are 
on  our  way  now  to  the  Wise  Woman.  The  Wise 
Woman  lives  in  the  stone  castle  beyond  the  forest, 
and  she  will  show  us  how  to  open  the  box  and  to 
use  the  key.  Because  the  box  was  hers  once, 
before  she  gave  it  to  the  fairy  king  to  keep  for 


THE  BEASS   BOUND   BOX  93 

us.  She  knew  that  one  day  we  should  come  into 
the  forest  and  that  all  would  happen  that  has 
happened.  That's  what  makes  her  the  Wise 
Woman.  She  has  lived  a  long,  long  time.  So 
long  that  her  hair  is  quite  gray  and  there  are 
wrinkles  around  her  eyes.  But  the  eyes  are 
still  clear  and  gentle  and  there  is  a  pretty 
pink  color  in  her  cheeks.  She  wears  a  soft  gray 
gown  with  an  old-fashioned  kerchief  crossed 
over  her  breast,  and  sometimes,  most  always, 
there  is  a  flower  thrust  into  the  lace  ker- 
chief. Her  hands  are  white  and  slender  and 
blue  veined,  but  they  look  old,  and  her  voice  is 
sweet  and  gentle  like  her  eyes.  Yet  sometimes  — 
sometimes,  when  other  people  who  are  not  at  all 
wise  but  very  troublesome  come  before  the  Wise 
One  and  displease  her,  a  little  sharp  fire  gets  into 
the  eyes  and  a  sour  little  tang  into  the  voice,  and 
then  the  Troublesome  One  wishes  she  hadn't 
come !  " 

They  had  been  walking  swiftly  toward  the 
village,  for  to  Montgomery  every  step  of  the  way 
was  so  familiar  that  he  need  not  look  for  land- 
marks, and  his  eyes  had  remained  fixed  in  fascina- 
tion upon  the  girl's  radiant  face  as  she  spun  this 
fairy-tale  without  stop  or  hesitation.  It  had  been 
as  real  to  him  as  to  her,  but  now  there  came  over 
him  a  disappointment  even  more  real.  Pausing 
abruptly  on  the  path,  he  burst  forth,  indignantly: 


94  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

"  Oh,  f-f-f -fudge !  That  Wise  Woman's  nobody 
but  Aunt  Eu-Eu-Eu-nice !  " 

At  the  same  moment  something  heavy  crashed 
through  the  underbrush,  and  a  man  fell  sprawl- 
ing at  their  feet. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE    GRIT    OF    MOSES    JONES 

An  axe  flew  gleaming  through  the  air  and 
Montgomery  vanished,  the  brass  bound  box  with 
him. 

Katharine  was  too  startled  to  move,  and  stood 
listening  to  the  distressing,  almost  blood-curdling 
groans  which  issued  from  the  man's  lips,  as,  for 
a  moment,  he  lay  face  downward  before  her. 
Then  she  recognized  the  apparel  of  Moses  Jones 
and  bent  over  him  pityingly. 

"Why,  Uncle  Mose!     What  is  the  matter?" 

For  only  answer  more  groans,  which  presently 
began  to  thrill  her  with  an  unspeakable  terror. 
What  made  him  do  that  ?  What  had  befallen 
him?  Was  he  dying,  and  she  alone  with  him, 
there  in  the  strange  forest  ?  The  thought  was  tor- 
ture, and,  nerving  herself  to  the  task,  she  laid  her 
hand  upon  him,  though  her  repugnance  to  the  act 
was  a  fresh  torment.  It  had  always  been  one  of 
the  girl's  peculiarities  that  she  could  not  bear  to 
touch  any  ailing  thing.     She  would  wait  upon 

95 


96  THE    BRASS    BOUND   BOX 

people  who  were  ill  most  cheerfully,  even  eagerly, 
but  she  hated  to  come  in  personal  contact  with 
them.  It  had  been  so  even  in  the  case  of  her 
father  whom  she  idolized,  and  had  been  one  of 
the  small  items  in  stepmother's  list  against  her. 
But  she  had  heard  so  much  upon  the  subject  then, 
and  of  its  enormity,  that  she  had  set  herself  to 
overcome  the  failing,  since  failing  it  was.  And 
had  poor  Moses  known  it,  she  would  almost 
rather  have  borne  his  pain  herself  than  to  have 
helped  him  turn  upon  his  back  as  she  did.  To 
do  more  for  him  than  this  was  impossible,  and 
again  she  besought  him  to  say  how  he  was  hurt. 

Finally,  he  opened  his  eyes  and  glanced  about 
him,  then  angrily  shook  his  fist  toward  a  project- 
ing tree-root  which  had  been  hidden  from  his 
sight  by  a  group  of  ferns  and  over  which  he  had 
stumbled. 

"  That's  it !  That's  the  mis'able  thing  'at  done 
it !  "  he  cried,  then  groaned  again,  but  weakly. 
The  pain  had  suddenly  become  so  severe  as  to  turn 
him  faint  while  the  brilliant  branches  overhead 
began  to  dance  and  sway  before  his  dizzy  sight 
as  no  wind  could  make  them  do.  "I  —  I'm 
gettin'  light-headed.  Help  me  up,  Keehoty. 
I'm  broke.  I'm  broke  all  to  smash.  My  leg  — 
my  side  —  oh,  oh,  ouch !  " 

His  increasing  pallor  frightened  Katharine 
till  pity  overcame  repugnance,  and  with  a  strength 
unknown  before  she  clasped  her  arms  about  his 


"'I    FEEL    SO    QUEER    EVERY    LITTLE   SPELL,    AN'   I   MUST 
GET    HOME ' " 


THE   GRIT   or   MOSES   JONES         97 

neck  and  struggled  to  lift  him  to  his  feet,  all 
the  while  protesting:  "You  mustn't  be  broken! 
You  can't  be.  Just  a  little  crooked  root  like  that 
and  a  big  man  like  you.  Not  quite  so  hard, 
please !  Not  quite  so  tight !  'Cause  you're  pull- 
ing me  down  instead  of  me  you  up.  There,  that's 
better !  " 

.  Susanna  had  often  declared  that  Moses  was 
"  just  like  ary  other  man,  scared  to  death  if  even 
his  little  toe  ached,"  and  it  was  true  that  he  was 
so  unused  to  illness  that  his  few  attacks  of  it  had 
always  frightened  him.  Yet  now  he  realized 
that  something  far  worse  than  ordinary  had 
befallen,  and  that  he  must  rally  his  grit  and  his 
strength  together.  With  an  heroic  effort  he  got 
upon  his  feet  —  or  foot,  for  one  was  useless,  and 
braced  himself  against  the  tree-trunk  beside 
them. 

"  Now,  sissy,  go  find  an'  fetch  my  axe  that 
got  flung  off  my  shoulder  when  I  stumbled.  I 
didn't  think  when  I  brought  it  to  chop  with 
'twould  prove  a  crutch  for  broken  bones.  Oh, 
I  wish  we  wasn't  so  far  from  home.  I  wish  you'd 
kep'  in  the  right  road  an'  not  come  flarrickin' 
clear  off  here  out  the  beaten  track." 

"  Why  —  isn't  this  the  right,  the  shortest  way 
back  ?  "  asked  Katharine,  surprised. 

"  No,  'tain't.  I  s'pose  all  trees  look  alike  to 
city  gals,  but  don't  stop  to  gabble.  Find  the  axe. 
Pick  up  your  basket.    I  feel  so  queer  every  little 


98  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

spell,  an'  I  must  get  home.  That  shin-bone's 
broke,  true  as  preachin',  an'  six  seven  my  ribs, 
by  the  feel  of  'em,  for  my  foot  wobbles  'round 
as  if  it  was  hung  on  a  string,  an'  my  side !  The 
axe,  Keehoty,  the  axe !  " 

She  found  and  brought  it,  weeping  bitterly. 
She  had  never  felt  so  sorry  for  anybody  as  for  this 
brave  old  fellow  who  was  now  forcing  himself  to 
overcome  his  own  misery  for  the  sake  of  others. 
For  when  she  begged  him  to  stay  still  where  he 
was  and  let  her  run  to  the  village  and  bring  some- 
body to  help  he  vigorously  refused. 

"  Scare  the  hull  community  just  'cause  I  was 
fool  enough  to  tumble  down  and  crack  my  leg? 
Me,  an  old  woodman,  that'd  ought  to  have  some 
sense.  An'  Eunice!  Why,  'twould  scare  Eunice 
out  of  a  year's  growth  to  see  me  fetched  home 
'stead  of  walkin'  there  on  my  own  pins.  Half 
a  loaf's  better'n  no  loaf,  an'  one  leg's  better'n 
none.  As  for  my  plaguey  old  ribs  —  they  can 
take  care  themselves.  But  once  we  get  there 
you  just  clip  it  to  the  doctor's  an'  have  him  come 
'round  an'  patch  me  up.  He'll  have  to  do  it  so's 
I  can  be  workin'  reg'lar,  'cause  I'm  the  only  man 
there  is.  Besides,  town  meetin's  comin'  on, 
an'  —    My  sake !    I'm  beat !  " 

Beaten  he  was  into  the  silence  which  he  had 
dreaded,  wherein  he  realized  his  own  agony.  He 
had  kept  talking  to  prevent  thinking,  but  had  now 
passed  beyond  that.     By  nods  and  glances  he  di- 


THE  GRIT   OF   MOSES   JONES         99 

rected  Kate  along  the  shortest  way,  but  it  seemed 
to  the  sufferer  as  if  the  familiar  big  stone  house 
grew   steadily  more   distant  rather   than   nearer. 

Katharine  never  forgot  that  walk.  To  her, 
also,  the  distance  seemed  interminable,  and  the 
firm  clutch  of  his  hand  upon  her  shoulder  for 
its  support  almost  to  break  her  own  bones.  His 
face,  when  she  now  and  then  glanced  toward  it, 
was  pallid  with  suffering,  but  his  lips  were 
grimly  shut,  defying  his  own  misery.  As  he 
shaved  only  once  a  week,  on  Sunday  morning, 
his  half-grown  stubble  of  beard  enhanced  his 
pallor,  but  did  not  add  to  his  beauty ;  and  Katha- 
rine, reared  among  city  folks  who  made  such 
"  Sunday  habits "  their  every-day  ones,  felt 
something  like  disgust. 

"  I'm  awful  sorry  for  him,  but  —  but  he  looks 
horrid.  And  he  hurts  me,  too.  Oh,  I  wish  we  had 
never  come  into  this  dreadful  forest,  pretty  as  it 
is ;  but,  joy !  there's  a  house.  We'll  be  in  the  vil- 
lage soon  and  at  home.  What  will  Aunt  Eunice 
say  ?    And  where  did  that  mean  boy  go  ?  " 

As  Katharine's  thoughts  ran  on  this  wise  they 
were  steadily  though  slowly  passing  over  the  rough 
ground  of  the  wood  to  the  smoother  fields  beyond ; 
and  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the  Maitland  bams, 
there  was  Montgomery  peeping  around  a  corner 
and  on  the  lookout  for  somebody.  His  release 
from  confinement  at  home  had  been  the  result  of 
Aunt  Eunice's  call,  he  having  been  permitted  to 


100  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

walk  home  with  her,  and  to  spend  the  day  with 
Katharine.  Alfaretta  was  recovered  and  able  to 
do  her  own  dish-washing,  and  on  the  Monday 
the  boy  must  return  to  school.  So  Madam  had 
made  him  array  himself  once  more  in  his  best 
attire  and  had  duly  instructed  him  how  young 
gentlemen  of  the  Sturtevant  race  should  conduct 
themselves  toward  young  ladies  of  the  Maitland 
family. 

Arrived  at  the  stone  mansion,  Susanna  had 
promptly  sent  the  boy  to  the  woods  to  hunt  up 
his  playmate,  if  he  desired  her,  and  in  any  case 
to  remind  Moses  that  he  had  gone  off  without 
killing  the  chicken  for  dinner. 

"  You  tell  him  to  come  right  straight  back 
here  an'  do  it  now,  if  he  wants  a  bite  to  eat.  I 
ain't  never  wrung  a  fowl's  neck  nor  chopped  off 
her  head,  nor  Eunice  hain't,  nuther,  an'  we  ain't 
a-goin'  to  begin  at  our  time  o'  life.  Killin' 
poultry  or  pigs,  ary  one,  is  man's  work  an'  not 
woman's,  an'  so  say  to  him  't  if  he  wants  his 
dinner  he  can  come  kill  it.  He's  gettin'  so  forget- 
ful lately  't  he  can't  remember  nothin'  'cept 
fishin',  an'  though  he  took  his  axe  along  I  'low 
he'll  do  more  threshin'  nut-trees  for  that  young  one 
than  choppin' ;  an'  you  remember,  Montgomery 
Sturtevant,  that  you've  got  on  your  Sunday 
clothes ;  and  no  matter  if  your  rich  city  relations 
do  give  'em  to  you  without  no  trouble  to  you  nor 
your  grandma,  'at  you  ought  to  take  care  of  'em 


THE   GEIT   OF   MOSES   JONES       101 

and  keep  'em  clean.  Don't  go  climbin'  trees  with 
'em  on,  but  just  pick  up  what's  on  the  ground 
an'  you'll  eat  enough  then,  fat  white  worms  an'  all, 
to  mak6  you  sick.  Katy,  she  can  give  you  part  her 
cookies,  but  don't  you  get  carryin'  on  with  her 
little  basket,  'cause  it  was  her  pa's,  an'  she's 
goin'  to  set  great  store  by  it.  Tell  him  it's  half- 
past  nine  if  it's  a  minute,  an'  them  old  fowls 
what  we're  killin'  off  first  is  ruther  tough.  I 
ought  to  have  her  in  the  pot  right  now,  an'  there 
she  ain't  caught  yet,  runnin'  'round  the  hen-yard 
at  loose  ends,  an'  I'll  try  to  catch  her  an'  that'll 
help,  an  —  My  suz !  if  that  boy  ain't  half  'crost 
the  pastur'  an'  me  not  done  talkin'  to  him.  The 
sassy  thing!  If  I'd  had  my  way  makin'  this 
world  there  wouldn't  have  been  nobody  in  it 
'cept  girls,  an'  them  grown  up  and  come  to  their 
gumption.  But  that  hen  —  I'll  try  catch  her  or 
she'll  never  be  caught." 

Which  was  very  true;  as  also  the  fact  that 
before  the  garrulous  housekeeper  had  more  than 
suggested  "  chicken "  and  "  chestnuts,"  Mont- 
gomery had  vanished  to  set  them  in  train.  After 
all,  there  might  be  compensations,  he  thought, 
for  a  day  wasted  upon  a  girl's  society.  There  still 
seemed  to  linger  upon  his  palate  the  flavor  of 
Aunt  Eunice's  pullets,  from  which  he  had  been 
despoiled  by  his  first  enforced  call  upon  her  ward, 
and  though  he  had  regretfully  heard  Susanna 
say  "  chicken  "  without  the  plural  "  s,"  he  knew 


102     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

that,  being  himself  "  company,"  he  would  get 
his  full  share  of  the  fowl,  which  he  trusted  might 
be  a  large  one. 

Which  explains  his  presence  in  the  wood  and 
his  lingering  in  the  barn-yard  now,  where  he 
could  command  a  first  view  of  any  person  issuing 
from  the  forest  on  the  shortest  way  home.  He 
had  retreated  here  after  what  he  had  supposed 
was  a  robber  had  fallen  at  his  feet,  and  at  the  cost 
of  a  breathless  run  had  preserved  the  mysterious 
brass  bound  box  from  theft.  He  had  now  safely 
hidden  it  in  the  hay-mow,  and  awaited  Kate's 
return  to  tell  her  where.  It  had  been  almost 
beyond  his  power  to  keep  the  secret  from  Miss 
Maitland,  even  thus  long,  but  loyalty  to  the  dis- 
coverer had  restrained  him.  And  at  last  there  she 
was  coming  across  the  pasture.  Uncle  Moses  with 
her ;  and  what  was  most  astonishing,  the  pair  were 
leaning  upon  one  another  in  an  intimacy  which 
made  Montgomery  feel  rather  jealous. 

"  F-f-f -fudge !  I  didn't  know  he  liked  g-g-girls ! 
He's  got  his  hand  on  her  s-s-shoulder,  an'  my,  how 
they  do  just  c-c-cr-creep !  Even  the  pug  dog  just 
bare  w-w-waddles,  like  he's  tuckered  out,"  re- 
marked the  watching  lad  to  Sir  Philip,  who  had 
taken  advantage  of  the  day's  warmth  to  visit  the 
mouse-infested  barn  and  now  lay  sunning  himself 
on  its  southern  threshold. 

But  at  the  name  of  dog  the  Angora  sniffed  the 
air    and   withdrew   with    dignity    to    his    throne 


THE   GRIT   OF   MOSES   JONES       103 

indoors.  He  had  already  learned  that  Punch 
knew  a  good  cushion  when  he  saw  it;  and, 
though  early  provided  with  one  for  himself,  pre- 
ferred the  satin  couch  of  Sir  Philip  to  the  carpet- 
covered  one  which  Susanna  declared  "  plenty 
good  enough  for  ary  dog  humbly  as  that  one." 
If  Punch  secured  the  cushion  first  he  was  not 
easily  dislodged,  and  since  his  one  great  battle 
the  Angora  shrank  from  contest.  Evidently  Sir 
Philip  judged  discretion  better  than  valor,  and 
the  behavior  of  the  two  animals  afforded  the 
family  much  amusement. 

Thus  deserted  of  all  society  save  his  own 
thoughts,  Monty  fixed  a  keener  attention  upon 
the  slowly  advancing  pair,  and  presently  ex- 
claimed : 

"  F-f -fudge !  Somethin's  happened.  Uncle 
Mose's  leanin'  on  her;  she's  a  h-h-helpin'  him! 
She's  a  w-w-w-wav-in'  to  me  like  blazes!  That's 
no  '  how-de-do '  salute,  that's  a  '  come  r-r-right 
here '  one !  He's  got  his  axe,  looks  like,  an's 
1-1-leanin'  on  it.  F-fudge!  I  bet  he's  chopped 
his  foot  'stead  of  a  t-t-tree !  " 

Monty's  legs  flew  up  and  down  like  the  rapidly 
revolving  spokes  of  a  wheel  as  he  hurried  toward 
the  man  and  girl.  But  after  one  hasty  glance 
at  the  feet  of  Mr.  Jones,  and  seeing  no  blood  on 
either,  he  knew  that  whatever  was  amiss  it  was 
not  what  he  had  fancied.  Without  a  word  he 
seized  the  axe  from  its  owner's  trembling  hand 


104     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

and  placed  his  own  sturdy  little  shoulder  in  its 
place.  Katharine  was  not  crying  now,  but  her 
anxiety  altered  her  appearance  strangely,  and 
Moses  was  wholly  past  speech.  Every  nerve  of 
his  tortured  body  was  strained  to  reach  a  spot 
where  he  could  sink  down  and  yield  to  the  dread- 
ful weakness  which  assailed  him.  Even  the  hard 
floor  of  the  barn  seemed  a  paradise  of  rest,  and 
he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  wide  doorway  with 
a  last  effort  of  his  will. 

He  did  reach  it,  but  there  both  will  and  con- 
sciousness gave  way  to  the  strain  of  the  last  hour, 
though  the  story  of  his  pluck  and  endurance  was 
to  make  him  more  highly  respected  in  his  native 
town  than  he  had  ever  been  before. 

When  he  sank  down  fainting  the  children  loosed 
their  hold  on  either  side,  Montgomery  standing 
still  in  a  frightened  wonder,  but  Kate  hastening 
indoors  for  help.  Rushing  breathlessly  into  the 
sitting-room  where  Miss  Eunice  was  quietly 
arranging  some  yellow  'mums  in  a  quaint  glass 
jar,  she  caught  the  lady's  hand  with  a  vehemence 
which  sent  the  flowers  in  one  direction,  the  pretty 
jar  in  another. 

"  Oh,  Aunt  Eunice  I  Come  quick,  'cause  now 
he  truly  must  be  dead,  after  all.     Quick,  quick !  " 

"  Katharine  —  my  dear !  Why  will  you  do 
such  startling  things  ?  My  precious  jar  that  has 
held  flowers  for  us  these  generations  just  rescued 


THE   GRIT   OF   MOSES   JONES       105 

from  destruction!  And  the  poor  flowers  them- 
selves —  " 

"  Oh,  don't  bother !  Please,  please  come. 
There's  only  Monty  out  there,  and  I  —  I  did  what 
I  could,  but  he's  dead,  anyway." 

"  Dead,  child  ?  Sir  Philip  dead  ?  "  asked  Miss 
Maitland,  her  thoughts  instantly  reverting  to  the 
only  ailing  member  of  the  household. 

"  No,  Aunt  Eunice,  but  a  person,  a  man  — 
Uncle  Moses." 

Then,  indeed,  did  Eunice's  own  hand  tremble 
so  that  she  set  the  jar  she  had  just  preserved  back 
on  the  mantel  while  her  face  paled  in  distress. 
But  she  caught  the  girl's  guiding  hand  firmly  in 
her  own,  called  to  Susanna  in  the  kitchen,  and  on 
the  brief  journey  to  the  "  further  bam  "  learned 
the  main  facts  of  the  affair. 

Two  hours  later  Katharine  and  Montgomery 
sat  down  in  the  kitchen  to  a  dinner  of  bread  and 
milk,  while  over  the  rest  of  the  house  hung  a 
strange  silence  which  made  even  its  former 
quietude  seem  noisy  by  contrast.  Aunt  Eunice 
had  gone  to  lie  down,  being  greatly  shaken  by  the 
sad  accident,  which,  while  being  much  less  tragic 
than  the  death  Katharine  had  reported,  was 
trouble  sufficiently  serious.  In  the  kitchen  cham- 
ber above,  Moses'  own  room,  they  could  hear 
Susanna  softly  stepping  about  in  list  slippers, 
only  the  jar  of  the  floor  beams  betraying  her 
movements,    and    occasionally    a    mufiled    voice, 


106    THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

strangely  unlike  the  gruff  tones  of  the  hired  man, 
would  float  down  to  them.  Sir  Philip  lay  purring 
himself  to  sleep,  after  a  strenuous  season  of  un- 
rest, during  which  nobody  had  had  time  to  pro- 
tect him  from  mischievous  Punch.  As  for  the 
latter,  he  had  been  fatigued  by  his  trip  to  and 
from  the  forest,  as  well  as  his  manceuvres  with 
the  Angora,  and  now  took  his  owli  rest  by  sleep- 
ing with  one  eye  open. 

The  children  themselves  were  weary.  Katha- 
rine from  the  excitement  of  the  morning,  and 
Montgomery  from  physical  exercise.  He  had 
never  done  so  many  useful  things  in  his  life  as 
he  had  crowded  into  the  space  of  two  short  hours. 
It  was  he  who  had  summoned  the  doctor,  run  back 
and  forth  between  that  gentleman's  office  and  Miss 
Maitland's  house,  carried  a  plain  statement  of 
facts  to  Madam  Sturtevant,  as  well  as  a  highly 
furbished  one  to  every  householder  between  the 
two  mansions,  and  had  manfully  attended  to  Mr. 
Jones's  noon  "  chores."  He  had,  indeed,  already 
a  wild  ambition  to  be  engaged  in  the  hired  man's 
place,  since  the  doctor  said  that  that  sufferer 
would  be  laid  up  in  bed  for  at  least  three  months. 

"  I'd  r-r-rather  do  chores  any  day  than  go  to 
s-s-school,"  he  announced  to  his  companion,  swal- 
lowing a  large  bit  of  bread  at  the  same  time,  and 
thereby  causing  that  young  person  to  tilt  her  nose 
upwards,  disdainfully. 

"  You  ought  to  be  as  nice  in  your  manners  out 


THE  GRIT   OF   MOSES   JONES       107 

here  alone  with  me  as  you  would  be  in  the  real 
dining-room  with  Aunt  Eunice  and  grown-up 
company,"  she  reproved,  daintily  balancing  her 
own  spoon  with  an  ease  which  the  other  would 
scarcely  admit  to  himself  that  he  admired. 

"  F-f -fudge.  You  ain't  c-c-com — pany  no 
more.    You  belong,  don't  you  ?  " 

"I  —  I  guess  so.  I  begin  to  hope  so,  for  this 
is  the  most  delightfully  happening  place  I  ever 
was  in.  Though  I  never  was  in,  to  stay,  but  one 
other.  First  you  fell  over  a  precipice,  and  then 
I  found  a  nest  of  little  turkeys  all  dead,  out  in 
the  black  currant-bushes,  Susanna  says  they  are, 
that  had  stolen  themselves  —  whatever  that  is. 
Then  that  mystery  of  a  brass  bound  box ;  and  now 
Uncle  Moses  breaking  his  bones,  and  so  much 
going  on.  But  —  Montgomery  Sturtevant !  That 
box!  What  did  become  of  it?  Would  we  dare, 
do  you  suppose  we  might  go  back  to  the  woods 
and  find  it?  It  was  all  your  fault.  If  I  hadn't 
let  you  carry  it  —  All  this  about  poor  Uncle 
Moses  has  put  it  out  of  my  mind,  but  now  it 
comes  back  and  it's  more  important  than  he  is. 
I'm  sure  of  it.    We  must  find  it.    Come,  quick !  " 

Katharine  pushed  back  from  the  table  and; 
sprang  to  her  feet,  her  weariness  forgotten  in 
this  fresh  anxiety. 

But  Monty  was  neither  anxious  nor  excited ; 
at  least,  not  about  the  box,  though  he  held  it 
scarcely  less  important  than  she  did.     He  was 


108  THE   BEASS   BOUOT)   BOX 

busy  over  a  "  sum "  in  mental  arithmetic,  a 
branch  of  study  he  little  favored,  though  it  had 
now  come  to  assume  considerable  importance  to 
him.  Yet  the  problem  was  beyond  his  capacity, 
though  this  keen-witted  girl  might  solve  it.  He'd 
try  her.  Therefore,  still  gurgling  his  milk,  he 
spluttered : 

"  S-s-s-ay,  Katy !  if  a  man,  if  a  m-m-man  can 
earn  a  dollar  a  day  doin'  c-c-chores,  all  the 
c-c-chores,  how  much  can  a  boy  earn  doin'  h-h-ha- 
half  of  'em  ?  " 

"  Not  a  single  cent,  if  I  had  to  pay  him,  and 
he  were  such  a  boy  as  you.  A  boy  so  mean  he'd 
take  a  brass  bound  box  out  of  a  girl's  hands  and 
lose  it  for  her,  and  then  wouldn't  budge  to  go 
get  it.  You  do  try  me  so,  Montgomery !  And 
there's  one  thing  I  know.  That  is,  that  if  I  had 
the  management  of  you  I'd  break  you  of  that 
detestable  habit  of  stuttering,  or  know  the  reason 
why.  It's  all  nonsense.  You  can  talk  as  well  as 
anybody  else,  only  you're  too  lazy.  Now,  will 
you  come  ?  " 

To  her  surprise  and  to  her  shame,  also,  he 
neither  resented  her  sharp  speech  nor  her  reply 
to  his  money  question.  Leaning  forward,  his  blue 
eyes  took  on  an  earnestness  which  effectually  dis- 
pelled all  notion  of  vanity  in  their  possessor, 
demanding : 

"  C-c-c-could  you  do  it  ?  C-c-can  you  ?  W-w-w- 
wi-will  you  ?  " 


THE  GRIT   OF  MOSES   JONES       109 

"  Yes,  I  might,  could,  would,  and  should  —  if 
you'd  go  find  my  brass  bound  box !  " 

"  Cross  your  heart,  honest  Injun,  h-h-hope  to 
d-d-die?" 

"  No.  Neither  one.  Just  plain  '  Yes.'  I 
know  a  way.  I've  read  all  about  it  in  the 
Cyclopedia  in  the  big  bookcase.  I  hunted  it  up 
right  away,  that  first  day  after  the  first  night 
when  I  —  I  mocked  you.  I  made  up  my  mind 
then,  and  I  never  unmake  minds,  that  if  you'd  be 
decent  I'd  cure  you.  It's  nothing  but  a  dreadful 
bad  habit,  anyway,  and  easy  done.  But  not  until 
you  find  my  —  the  —  Aunt  Eunice's  brass  bound 
box." 

He  was  gone  and  back  in  a  flash. 

Katharine,  starting  to  follow,  paused  in  the 
middle  of  the  floor,  arrested  by  the  sight  of  him 
standing  in  one  doorway  with  the  glittering 
casket  in  his  hands,  and  of  Miss  Maitland  in 
another  staring  at  that  which  he  held  as  if  she 
saw  a  ghost. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


HAY  -  LOFT    DKEAMS 


All  the  pretty  pink  color  which  had  hitherto 
tinged  the  lady's  cheek  had  vanished,  and  she 
visibly  trembled,  so  that  Katharine  darted  forward 
to  her  support.  But  Aunt  Eunice  raised  her 
hand  protestingly,  and  tottered  forward  to  the 
nearest  chair.  With  dry,  white  lips,  she  asked  in 
a  voice  so  low  it  could  barely  be  heard : 

"  Montgomery  Sturtevant,  where  —  where  did 
you  find  that?  " 

Her  appearance  alarmed  both  the  children,  who 
fancied  she,  also,  was  about  to  faint  as  Moses  had 
done,  yet  she  did  not  fall  nor  did  her  gaze  waver ; 
and  impelled  by  its  sternness  to  make  reply, 
Monty  finally  stammered: 

"  H-h-h-hay-m-m-ow." 

"  Hay-mow !  Impossible !  "  returned  Miss 
Maitland,  becoming  a  bit  more  natural  in  appear- 
ance, while  Kate  indignantly  turned  upon  her 
playmate,  demanding  and  denying: 

"  How  dare  you  ?  He  didn't.  'Twas  I  — 
under  a  tree  in  your  own  big  forest.  I  dug  it 
110 


HAY -LOFT   DEEAMS  111 

up  and  fetched  it  —  he  fetched  —  there  wasn't 
a  haj-mow  anywhere  near  it.  Oh,  Aunt  Eunice, 
it's  the  Magic  Treasure.  It  holds  the  key  to  all 
the  world  —  to  all  the  good  things  in  the  world, 
anyway.  And  you're  the  wonderful  Wise  Woman 
will  open  it  and  let  us  use  the  gold  and  diamonds 
and  precious  stones  to  make  all  the  poor  people 
rich  and  glad.  'Tis  yours,  I  know,  and  quick, 
quick !  " 

With  a  bound  she  seized  the  box  from  Monty's 
hands  and  brought  it  to  the  disturbed  lady,  who, 
when  the  girl  would  have  placed  it  on  her  lap, 
recoiled  as  from  some  venomous  thing. 

"  No,  no !  Don't  bring  it  to  me.  I  wouldn't 
touch  it.  It  has  wrought  evil  already,  and  so 
great  —  " 

Then  she  abruptly  paused  and  steadfastly  re- 
garded the  quaint  old  casket  which,  as  Katharine 
had  discovered,  seemed  to  have  neither  lock  nor 
fastening,  and  was  in  itself  a  marvellous  piece 
of  mechanism.  As  she  gazed  her  thought  was 
busy  as  painful,  but  out  of  the  chaos  one  idea  at 
last  grew  clear:  The  Brass  Bound  Box  must 
be  safely  hidden  and  none  must  know  that  it 
had  ever  been  found.  To  hide  it  she  would  have 
to  touch  it,  no  matter  how  unwillingly.  But  the 
secret  of  its  existence  must  be  kept,  although  that 
secret  was  already  in  the  possession  of  these  two 
others. 

She  called  them  to  her  and  held  out  her  hands 


112  THE   BE  ASS   BOUND   BOX 

now  for  the  box.  They  approached  her  with  a  sort 
of  awe,  for  there  was  that  still  in  her  face  which 
altered  its  ordinary  kindliness.  Not  that  it  was 
unkind,  for  there  was  even  more  than  usual 
sweetness  in  the  glance  she  gave  Montgomery, 
yet  he  felt  as  if  he  had  been  guilty  of  some  terrible 
sin  without  in  the  least  knowing  what  or  why. 

"  Children,  you  are  young  to  be  asked  to 
promise  so  serious  a  thing  as  I  now  ask  you,  but 
you  must  promise  it,  and  you  must  keep  your 
word.    Will  you  ?  " 

"  I  never  broke  my  w^ord  in  my  life,  Aunt 
Eunice !  I  wouldn't  begin  now  after  I've  grown 
to  be  such  a  big  girl,"  said  Katharine,  promptly. 
"  But  it's  honest  to  tell  you  I  hate  promises,  and 
I  never  feel  so  tempted  to  lie  as  when  I've  made 
one.  I'd  rather  not  promise,  if  you  please;  and 
I  guess  —  I  guess  I'd  rather  not  hear  any  secret. 
I'll  go  out  and  let  you  tell  it  to  Monty  alone." 

Montgomery  shot  out  a  restraining  hand  and 
clutched  her  vanishing  skirts,  while  a  faint 
smile  stole  to  Miss  Maitland's  lips  at  this  evidence 
of  moral  cowardice.  The  boy  felt,  and  with 
justice,  that  it  was  "  Kitty  Quixote  "  who  had 
got  him  into  this  scrape,  with  her  wild  woodland 
adventures  and  her  fairy-tales,  and  that  it  was  but 
fair  she  should  share  in  it. 

"  Unfortunately,  you  already  know  it.  What 
you  must  promise  is  —  that  you  will  never,  never 
speak  of  this  box  or  its  strange  reappearance  to 


HAY -LOFT   DEEAMS  113 

any  person,  young  or  old.  I  shall  put  it  out  of 
sight  where  it  will  not  be  easily  found  again,  and 
then  forget  it.  You  must  forget  it,  too.  You 
are  Sturtevant  and  Maitland,  descendants  of 
honorable  men  and  women,  and  for  the  sake  of 
your  forebears  you  must  hide  this  thing." 

It  was  all  so  solemn  that  Katharine  shivered, 
yet  could  not  help  wondering  a  little.  "  Fore- 
bears "  —  that  meant  dead  people ;  and  how 
could  it  harm  people  already  dead  to  have  that 
box  found^  even  supposing  it  to  be  full  of  poisons 
or  other  dreadful  stuff,  as  she  now  began  to 
imagine  ? 

Now,  if  Kate  merely  shivered  and  speculated, 
poor  Montgomery  was  in  an  ague.  When  he  fixed 
his  great  eyes  upon  Aunt  Eunice's  face  they  were 
so  full  of  terror  that  she  pitied  him,  and  tried  to 
comfort,  saying: 

"  Don't  look  so  frightened,  dear.  It's  only 
to  keep  from  speaking  of  what  has  happened  this 
morning.  That's  easy,  isn't  it  ?  Besides,  you 
are  so  young  you  will  not  remember  long.  Other 
things  will  drive  it  from  your  minds.  At  least, 
I  trust  so.    In  any  case,  you  are  in  honor  bound." 

With  that  she  rose  as  if  to  dismiss  them,  and 
went  away  toward  the  seldom  used  west  wing  of 
^he  great  house,  carrying  the  box  with  her.  Her 
step  was  no  longer  uncertain,  but  firm  and  decided. 
A  terrible  situation  had  suddenly  confronted  her, 
and  made,  for  a  moment,  even  her  clear  judgment 


114  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

dim;  but  she  had  swiftly  weighed  the  conse- 
quences, pro  and  con,  and  had  settled  the  wisest 
course  to  follow. 

Left  alone,  these  young  "  descendants  of 
honorable  men  and  women  "  regarded  one  another 
in  dismay;  and  Montgomery  was  the  first  to 
speak,  crying  out  with  all  the  intensity  words 
could  express: 

"  Oh,  ain't  it  a-a-aw— ful !  " 

"  Huh !  I  don't  see  anything  '  awful '  about  it, 
'cept  your  hanging  on  to  me  and  making  me  stay 
whether  or  no.  That  was  a  dirty  mean  trick  — 
keeping  me  here  when  I  might  have  got  away 
without  hearing." 

"  Y-y-you  knew  it  a'ready.  An'  it  was  in  the 
h-h-h-hay-mow.  I'd  hid  it  there  the  min-ute  I 
g-g-got  to  the  barn,  waitin'  for  y-y-you.  But  come 
out  there  n-now.  I've  got  s-s-s-somethin'  to  tell 
you,"  said  the  unhappy  lad,  far  too  disturbed  to 
resent  her  sharpness.  At  which  she  became  in- 
stantly regretful,  and  slipped  her  arm  consolingly 
within  his,  as  they  walked  toward  the  great  barn, 
which  had  from  the  first  seemed  to  the  city  girl 
the  most  delightful  of  structures. 

It  was  further  proof  of  Monty's  dejection  that 
he  did  not  jerk  his  arm  away,  nor  would  he  have 
cared  at  all  who  saw  him  thus  being  petted  by  a 
"  girl."  However,  once  arrived  at  the  great  sun- 
lighted  doorway,  and  secure  even  from  Susanna's 
ears,  the  trouble  came  out. 


HAY -LOFT   DEEAMS  115 

"Oh,  w-w-what  shall  I  do?  I've  told  it  all 
over  t-t-town,  a'ready,  an'  it's  no  s-s-se — cret  at 
all!" 

Katharine  stuck  her  arms  akimbo  and  stared 
mercilessly  at  the  abject  creature  before  her,  who 
seemed  to  droop  and  wilt  under  her  gaze  as  if 
he  were  sinking  through  the  hay-strewn  floor. 

"  You  told  it  ?  "  she  repeated,  indignantly. 

Monty  nodded  mournful  acquiescence. 

"  Then  you  —  you  —  you  ought  to  be  set  wash- 
ing dishes  again,  and  kept  at  it  for  the  rest  of 
your  life.     So  there." 

One  blue  eye  was  raised  a  trifle  in  surprise. 
How  in  the  world  had  she  known  that?  He 
didn't  remember  mentioning  the  cause  of  his  re- 
cent retirement  from  public  life,  indeed,  he  was 
positive  that  this  had  been  a  "  secret "  really 
worth  keeping.  However,  it  didn't  matter  now. 
Nothing  mattered  except  that  he,  who  came  of 
such  "  honorable "  people,  had  betrayed  his 
friends. 

"  W-w-what'U  happen,  s'pose  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  Kate,  slowly. 
"  Something  dreadful  ought.  For  before  it  was 
Aunt  Eunice's  secret  the  box  was  my  secret,  too. 
I  was  the  first  who  should  have  told  it,  and  only  to 
her.  You  had  no  right  to  speak  of  it  till  I  gave 
you  leave." 

"  Un-un-uncle  Mose  broke  his  bones,  and  I 
h-h-had  to  go  'round,  didn't  I  ?    An'  when  I  told 


116  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

about  him  the  o-o-other  j-j-j-just  slipped  out  it- 
self.    T-t-t-that's  all." 

"  Humph  !  '  All ! '  And  more  mischief  done 
than  you  or  I  can  guess,  maybe.  For  though  I 
can't  imagine  why  Aunt  Eunice  should  be  so  over- 
come and  anxious  at  sight  of  just  a  box,  there 
must  be  some  good  reason.  She  has  seen  that  box 
before  and  it  doesn't  suggest  pleasant  memories 
to  her.  That's  plain.  She  would  have  been  glad 
if  it  had  never  been  found,  and  all  my  pretty 
romance  about  treasure  and  helping  people  turns 
out  just  horrid.  I  wish  I  had  never  gone  to  that 
wood,  then  things  wouldn't  have  happened.  The 
box  would  have  stayed  in  its  hole,  I  wouldn't  have 
hurried  home  with  it  by  the  long  wrong  way  and 
met  you,  and  poor  Uncle  Moses  wouldn't  have 
followed  nor  fallen  over  that  root.  Aunt  Eunice 
would  have  been  like  the  saying,  '  Where  igno- 
rance is  bliss,'  and  wouldn't  have  been  worried 
so,  and  we  shouldn't  have  been  forbidden  to  tell 
things  that  I  wouldn't  have  cared  to  tell,  if  I 
hadn't  been  forbidden.  And,  oh,  dear !  What  a 
terrible  hard  world  it  is !  and  what  a  lovely  old 
bam !  I  think  —  Do  you  suppose  I  could  climb 
up  that  hay-mow  ?  Susanna's  sure  there  are  hens' 
nests  '  stolen  '  up  there,  and  she  needs  the  eggs.  I 
wish  we  could  find  them.  I  wish  we  could  do 
something —  anything  that  is  pleasant  and  so 
helps  us  to  '  forget,'  as  Aunt  Eunice  wished  us  to 


HAY -LOFT   DREAMS  117 

do.  But  I  guess  I  can't  climb  much.  I  never 
had  a  chance  to  try." 

"  I'll  s-s-show  you !  "  cried  the  lad,  eagerly,  and 
delighted  to  think  there  was  something  in  which  he 
could  excel  this  clever  city  girl.  With  a  bound 
he  had  risen  from  the  floor,  where  both  had  sat 
during  the  last  of  their  talk,  had  promptly  spit 
upon  his  palms  and  rubbed  them  together,  then 
leaped  to  catch  an  upright  beam.  "  Shinnying  " 
up  to  the  slippery  mow  with  real  agility,  he  there 
paused  and  regarded  Katharine  with  an  expres- 
sion of  great  pride.  But  instead  of  admiration 
her  mobile  countenance  expressed  only  disgust, 
and  to  his  question,  "  H-h-how's  that  ? "  she  re- 
torted :  "  Nasty,  dirty  thing !  You  go  wash 
your  hands  before  you  touch  a  single  one  of  our 
eggs!" 

"  ^  0-o-our  '  eggs !  "  repeated  Monty,  scorn- 
fully, to  hide  his  own  chagrin.  "  H-h-how  long 
since  th-th-they  were  '  ours  '  ?  " 

"  Oh,  dear !  Do  come  down  and  wash,  and  let's 
quit  quarrelling.  Seems  as  if  we  never  could 
agree  about  things,  yet  we  must.  We've  got  to  be 
friends  if  we  have  to  keep  Aunt  Eunice's  secret, 
for  even  though  you  did  tell  it  before  it  was  hers 
you  needn't  make  it  worse  and  speak  of  it  again. 
If  anybody  asks  you  about  it  now,  all  you  must 
do  is  to  keep  perfectly  still.  Not  say  a  word. 
Let  them  think  what  they  please,  but  don't  you 
talk.     Now,  isn't  there  any  other  way  to  go  upon 


118  THE   BKASS   BOUND   BOX 

the  hay  except  by  that  beam  ?  The  Widow  Sprigg 
said  she  was  going  up  there  herself  soon  as  she 
got  time,  and  I'm  sure  she  doesn't  do  what  you 
did." 

"  C-c-couldn't  do  it  with — out,"  asserted  the 
climber,  referring  to  the  moistening  operation. 

"  I  mean  she  would  never  '  shinny '  up  a 
straight,  slivery  beam^" 

"  Huh !  I  s'pose  there's  a  1-1-lad — der,  do  for 
g-g-girls,"  asserted  Montgomery,  indifferently. 

"  Then  show  it  to  me  and  I'll  begin  to  teach  you 
how  not  to  stammer." 

He  looked  at  her  sharply,  but  there  was  such 
perfect  sincerity  in  her  face  that  he  accepted  her 
promise  joyfully,  and  led  her  to  the  rear  of  the 
barn  where  a  rude  but  strong  ladder  led  from  the 
"  bay "  at  the  bottom  to  the  top  of  the  hay, 
almost  touching  the  roof.  Jumping  from  the 
higher  board  floor  of  the  barn  into  this  bay  Mont- 
gomery ran  nimbly  up  the  perpendicular  ladder, 
which  was  so  straight  it  seemed  fairly  to  tilt  back- 
wards, like  an  overerect  person,  and  Katharine  fol- 
lowed as  best  she  might.  She  was  afraid  but 
determined,  and,  though  the  slippery  blades  of  the 
dried  grass  fell  over  the  rounds  of  the  ladder, 
making  foothold  difficult,  she  managed  to  reach 
the  level  beneath  the  eaves  and  was  pulled  over 
into  safety  by  the  boy. 

"  Isn't  this  delightful  ?  I  was  never  in  such  a 
lovely  place  before,  so  smelly  and  sweet  and  warm. 


HAY -LOFT    DKEAMS  119 

I  don't  wonder  hens  like  it  up  here,  though  it's 
scarey  coming  up.  Don't  you  think  so  ? "  she 
asked,  looking  around  upon  the  lofty  mow  with 
curious  gaze. 

"  S-s-scarey  ?  Pooh !  That's  'cause  you're  a 
girl.  G-g-g-irls  wasn't  made  to  climb.  B-boys 
were.  I  can  climb  first-rate.  Yes,  sir.  I  c-c-can 
climb  anything.  I  can  cl-cl-climb  any  tree  in 
Aunt  Eu-Eu-Eunice's  woods.  I  can  climb  any 
tree  in  Deacon  Meakin's  woods.  I  —  I  can 
climb  all  the  trees  in  Sq-Sq-Squ-Squire  Petti — 
John's  woods,  top  the  mountain.  I  can  climb  any 
tree  in  the  whole  w-w-world !  I  c-c-co-could 
climb  the  church  steeple !  " 

Katharine  listened  to  this  boastful  statement 
with  interest.  She  not  only  believed  it,  but  had 
observed  that  as  Montgomery  neared  his  climax 
his  stammering  became  less  pronounced.  This 
coincided  with  the  Cyclopedia  and  suggested  the 
first  lesson  she  should  give.  But  she  had  herself 
"  climbed "  to  this  height  for  another  matter 
besides  instruction.  To  descend  with  a  quantity 
of  fresh  eggs  for  Susanna's  depleted  larder  would 
be  to  bring  one  ray  of  sunshine  into  that  darkened 
house.  For  as  the  widow  had  pertinently  in- 
quired of  the  hired  man,  only  the  night  before, 
"  How  can  a  body  cook  good  victuals  without 
ingrejunce?  An'  what's  the  greatest  ingrejunce 
in  punkin  pies  if  it  ain't  eggs  ?  Or  cake,  uther  ?  " 
to  which  Moses  had  jocularly  replied:   "  It  might 


120  THE   BEASS  BOUND   BOX 

be  punkin  or  flour."  And  again,  Susanna: 
"  My  suz !  But  you  air  smart,  ain't  ye  ?  Well, 
eggs  I  haven't,  an'  eggs  I  shall  an'  must.  An' 
up  that  loft  I  go,  tromple  or  no  tromple  the  hay, 
an'  before  the  sun  sets  another  time  on  this 
deceivin'   world." 

Therefore,  eggs  Katharine  would  obtain  and 
then  instruct;  and,  announcing  this  decision, 
Montgomery  did  his  best  to  aid  her  in  the  search. 
Nor  was  it  unsuccessful.  There  were  three  nests, 
safely  placed  beneath  the  eaves  where  their  build- 
ers had  supposed  in  their  hen-minds  that  no 
human  being  would  ever  come,  while  another 
adventurous  fowl  had  lazily  scooped  a  hole  in  the 
very  centre  of  the  mow  and  deposited  her  eggs. 
In  any  case,  eggs  there  were  in  abundance,  and, 
having  filled  Montgomery's  pockets  and  Kate's 
hat  with  them,  they  took  their  own  well-earned 
rest  upon  the  fragrant  hay  beneath  the  slatted 
window. 

Sunshine  and  air  came  through  it,  and  the  song 
of  birds  in  the  trees ;  and  beyond  another  distant 
wide-opened  shutter  they  could  see  the  roofs  of 
village  homes  and  the  spire  of  the  church  which 
Monty  felt  he  could  so  easily  climb.  There,  all 
anxiety  forgotten,  they  dreamed  dreams  and  saw 
visions;  and  in  each  and  all  they  were  both  to  be 
good  and  great  and  world  beneficent. 

"  I  shall  be  a  great  artist  some  day.  As  great 
as  my  father,  or  maybe,  if  one  could  be  —  even 


"  THERE,     ALL     ANXIETY     FORGOTTEN,      THEY     DREAMED 
DREAMS    AND   SAW   VISIONS  " 


HAY -LOFT   DEEAMS  121 

greater.  Because,  you  see,  poor  papa  had  to 
work  for  money,  not  for  love  of  his  art.  I've 
heard  him  say  so,  time  and  time  again.  When  he 
wanted  to  paint  great  pictures  he  had  to  paint 
mean  little  ones,  such  as  common  persons  liked 
and  would  buy.  '  Pot  boilers '  he  called  them, 
because  they  brought  the  cash,  the  '  fuel,'  to  keep 
the  '  pot '  a-boiling.  Course,  we  had  to  have 
clothes  and  a  house  and  things  to  eat,  and  nobody 
to  buy  them  except  papa  darling.  Maybe,  up  in 
heaven,  he  is  painting  his  '  great  picture '  now. 
What  do  you  suppose  ? "  asked  Katharine,  gazing 
through  the  slats  at  the  blue  sky  overhead. 

"  I  d-d-don't  know  much  about  heaven.  I  never 
had  time  to  think.  T-t-t-th-there's  always  so  much 
doin',"  answered  Monty.  Yet,  following  Katha- 
rine's rapturous  gaze  skyward,  his  own  blue  eyes 
had  filled  with  dreamy  speculation,  and  he  began 
to  picture  to  himself  the  wonders  of  that  world 
beyond  Marsden  village  which  he  meant  sometime 
to  find. 

"B-b-but  I'll  tell  you  somethin',  Katy  Mait- 
land.  I'm  not  goin'  to  stay  here  always.  I'm 
goin'  to  be  a  big  man  and  —  and  do  things,"  he 
observed,  after  a  prolonged  meditation. 

"How  big?     What  things?" 

"  Oh !  Big  as  they  g-g-grow.  Big  as  the  post- 
master. B-b-big  as  Sq-Sq-Squ-Squire  Petti — ^john. 
I'm  goin'  to  be  either  a  s-s-sailor,  or  —  maybe 
P-P-Pr-President." 


122  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

"  If  you're  President  you'll  be  a  —  a,  what  is 
it  they  call  them  ?  Politicalers,  I  guess,"  returned 
the  girl. 

"  P-p-p-pol-er-tic — ian,"  corrected  Montgomery, 
with  stuttering  eagerness. 

Katharine  accepted  the  correction  without  com- 
ment, though  her  lips  twitched  and  her  eyes 
twinkled ;  and  after  a  pause  she  continued : 
"  Politicians  can  do  things.  They  can  get  folks 
elected.  Anybody  to  anything.  .  Plain  store- 
keepers to  be  postmasters ;  postmasters  to  be 
Senators ;  Senators  to  be  Presidents ;  and  —  and 
hired  men  to  be  constables.    Can't  they  ?  " 

"Y-y-yes.     Why?" 

Katharine  sat  upright  so  suddenly  that  her  hat 
rolled  over  and  the  eggs  spilled  from  it.  How- 
ever, the  hay  was  soft,  and  no  harm  was  done, 
nor  was  her  enthusiasm  cooled  by  a  trifle  of  that 
sort.  Clasping  her  hands  ecstatically,  she  ex- 
claimed : 

"  We  must  do  it !  You  and  I  must  get  Uncle 
Moses  Jones  elected  constable.  Now,  while  he's 
sick,  for  a  surprise.     Won't  that  be  grand  ?  " 

"  Grand !  "  assented  Montgomery,  with  such 
eagerness  that  he  forgot  to  trip  in  his  speech. 
Then  doubt  and  stammering  returned  together. 
"  W-w-we  c-c-c-couldn't." 

"  Yes,  we  could,  if  we  had  any  s-s-sp-spunk !  " 
retorted  Katharine,  heartlessly.  "  Folks  have 
to  be  little  politicians  before  they  are  big  ones, 


HAY -LOFT   DREAMS  123 

I  suppose,  just  like  children  before  they  are 
grown-ups.  Well,  you're  a  little  politician  now, 
a  teeny  tiny  one,  rand  it  will  be  just  splendid 
practice  for  you  to  get  a  village  constable  elected. 
I  believe  that  although  Uncle  Moses  and  even 
Aunt  Eunice  speak  so  proudly  of  that  office,  that 
it  isn't  as  great  as  some  others.  I  don't  know, 
and  I  wouldn't  care  at  all  except  for  him.  But 
we  must  do  it.  I've  heard  him  talking  with 
Widow  Sprigg  how  that  now  the  '  law  was 
changed,'  '  town  meeting  '  was  no  '  great  shakes  ' 
any  more,  for  the  Presidents  and  constables  all 
got  mixed  in  together  till  a  *  body  couldn't  tell 
t'other  from  which.'  For  his  part  he'd  '  nither  be 
'lected  in  the  spring  when  crops  was  growin'  an' 
tramps  a-trampin',  though  if  he  was  forced  into 
it,  better  one  time  than  never,'  and  a  lot  more 
funny  grumble.  She  told  him  not  to  worry,  that 
he'd  never  be  ■  forced,'  much  as  he'd  like  it.  I've 
decided  that  he  must  be  elected,  and  without  any 
'  forcing,'  and  I've  the  splendidest  plan  you  ever 
heard.  First,  I'll  give  you  a  lesson.  Then  I'll 
tell  you,  else  you'll  believe  I'm  forgetting  my 
promise.  I'm  not.  I'm  only  considering  the  best 
way  to  begin.  Well,  Montgomery  Sturtevant, 
that  bad  habit  of  yours  comes  from  laziness  and 
nervousness.  Pure  laziness,  pure  nervousness," 
she  added,  with  emphasis. 

"  D-d-don't   neither !  "    denied    the   stammerer, 
indignantly.     "  Ain't  got  no  nerves.   G-gr-gramma 


124     THE  BKASS  BOUND  BOX 

says  so,  and  she  knows.  She's  older  'n  you,  an' 
she's  got  'em  worst  kind.  Always  gets  'em  when  I 
play  the  f-f-fiddle." 

"  Maybe  there  are  two  kinds  of  nerves.  She 
doesn't  stammer.  Besides  the  Cyclopedia  said  so, 
and  it  tells  the  truth.  Here.  Put  this  pebble  in 
your  mouth.  It's  a  nice  smooth  round  one.  I 
picked  it  up  in  the  garden  and  washed  it  clean. 
You  put  it  in  and  then  say  just  —  as  —  slow  —  as 
—  slow :  '  Betsy  Bobbins  baked  a  batch  of  bis- 
cuit.' After  you  learn  to  say  it  slow,  without 
once  stammering,  then  you  begin  to  say  it  faster. 
Either  that  or  any  other  jingle  that's  difficult 
without  tripping.  '  She  sells  sea-shells,'  or, 
'  Peter  Piper.'  Why  don't  you  put  the  pebble 
in?" 

"  I   don't   want   t-to.     You're  mocking   me !  " 

"  There !  I  knew  you  needn't  if  you  really 
wouldn't.  When  you  are  a  little  angry  or  in 
real  earnest  you  can  talk  well.  Listen  to  me 
and  think  if  I'm  not  in  earnest  myself,  since  I 
took  the  trouble  to  copy  all  this  for  you." 

Thereupon,  from  the  little  pocket  of  her  blouse, 
which  had  held  the  pebble,  the  teacher  took  a 
folded  paper,  closely  covered  with  her  neatest 
script,  and  read  therefrom  paragraphs  which 
alternately  plunged  her  pupil  into  despair  or 
exalted  him  to  extravagant  delight.  And  the  for- 
tunate result  of  this  first  lesson  was  that  when 
it  was  ended  Montgomery  had  repeated  an  entire 


HAY -LOFT   DREAMS  125 

sentence  with  reasonable  smoothness.  But  he 
had  accomplished  this  without  the  pebble  and 
with  almost  interminable  pauses  between  words. 

"  Yet  you  did  it,  you  did  it !  "  cried  Katharine, 
exultantly ;  "  and  now  for  a  reward  you  shall  hear 
the  most  glorious  plan  I  ever  thought  out.  Listen 
to  me,  Mr.  President-that-is-to-be !  " 

So  Montgomery  listened  in  astonishment,  doubt, 
and  delight,  after  his  habit  of  mind;  yet  also, 
because  of  her  zeal  in  his  cure,  with  unquestioning 
allegiance.  In  any  case,  it  was  a  scheme  that 
would  have  appealed  to  him  irresistibly  and  was 
one  full  worthy  of  the  brain  of  "  Kitty  Quixote," 
so  that  he  was  fast  outstripping  even  her  ingenuity 
in  the  matter  of  detail,  when  the  sudden  call  of 
Widow  Sprigg  fell  like  a  dash  of  cold  water  upon 
their  glowing  spirits: 

"  Montgomery  Sturtevant !  You  come  right 
down  out  that  mow  this  minute!  Here's  Squire 
Pettijohn  after  you !  " 


CHAPTER    IX. 

SQUIRE    PETTIJOHN 

Kathaeine  should  have  grown  familiar,  by  this 
time,  with  Monty's  spasmodic  disappearances, 
but  this  last  was  the  most  amazing  of  all.  It 
seemed  that  at  the  sound  of  "  Pettijohn  "  the  hay 
had  opened  and  swallowed  him.  There  had  been 
no  other  summons  and  she  had  heard  only  a  faint 
swish  of  something  sliding,  then  found  herself 
alone. 

"  But  he'll  come  back,  of  course,"  she  reflected, 
"  after  he's  seen  that  gentleman.  Must  have 
been  somebody  he  liked  or  he  wouldn't  have 
hurried  so.  Anyway,  I  don't  mind  being  here  a 
little  while  by  myself  to  think  things  out  all  clear, 
and  a  hay-mow  is  the  loveliest  place  in  the  world 
for  dreaming." 

It  proved  such  in  reality  for  Katharine,  who, 
burrowing  herself  a  fresh,  chair-like  "  nest "  in 
the  sweet-scented  hay,  laid  her  head  back  and 
fixed  her  gaze  upon  the  clouds  floating  above  the 
slatted  window.  Soon  her  lids  dropped  and  she 
fell  fast  asleep. 

126 


SQUIRE   PETTIJOHN  127 

When  she  awoke  the  loft  was  dusky  in  twilight 
and  she  was  very  cold.  The  wind  had  risen,  and 
little  tufts  of  the  hay  about  her  blew  here  and 
there,  clinging  to  her  clothing  and  lodging  among 
her  short  curls.  Montgomery  had  not  returned, 
and  after  lying  still  a  moment  longer,  till  she 
was  fully  awake,  she  grew  frightened,  thinking: 

"  I  never  heard  such  a  moaning  and  whistling 
as  the  wind  does  make  up  here.  I  wonder  if  it 
is  always  so  in  a  barn,  and  how  I  am  to  get 
down.  It  was  hard  enough  coming  up,  but  in  the 
dark,  like  this,  and  I  not  remembering  just 
where  that  ladder  was ;  and  if  I  don't  find  it  — 
what  shall  I  do?  Yet  how  silly  to  be  afraid  of 
things,  a  big  girl  like  me;  and  how  impolite  of 
that  boy  to  go  away  and  forget  me.  No  matter 
how  much  he  likes  Squire  Petti  John,  he  shouldn't 
forget  his  manners ;  especially  since  it  is  I,  not 
that  gentleman,  who  is  going  to  cure  him  of 
stuttering.  And  what  a  stupid  I  am  not  to  call 
him !     If  he's  forgotten  I  must  remind  him." 

With  that  she  crept  as  near  the  edge  of  the  mow 
as  she  dared,  and  shouted :  "  Montgomery ! 
Monty  Sturtevant !  Boy !  Come  back  and  help 
me  down ! " 

While  she  listened  for  a  reply  she  thought  of 
the  eggs  she  had  collected  for  Susanna,  and 
crawled  back  to  find  her  hat  and  them.  The  hat 
she  slipped  over  her  head,  its  elastic  band  clasping 
her  throat,   and  the  eggs  she  stored  within  her 


128     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

blouse.  They  were  heavy  and  made  it  sag  incon- 
veniently, but  she  could  soon  get  rid  of  them  if 
only  that  wretched  little  Sturtevant  boy  would 
come  back.     She  must  try  again ! 

"  Mon-ty !       Mont  —  gom  —  ery !  " 

Nothing  save  the  wind  soughing  dismally 
among  the  rafters  responded  to  her  call,  uttered 
with  her  loudest  voice,  and  a  fresh  shiver  of  fear 
crept  over  her.  Then  she  rallied,  growing  angry, 
which,  under  the  circumstances,  was  the  best  thing 
that  could  have  happened.  Her  indignation  made 
her  half-forget  her  terror  so  that  she  could  plan 
her  descent  with  something  like  courage. 

"  Let  me  think.  I  noticed  that  the  top  of  that 
straight  little  ladder  came  high  above  the  hay, 
almost  to  the  roof  in  one  place.  I'd  better  get 
on  my  stomach  and  just  crawl  along,  ever  so 
slowly  and  carefully,  till  I  find  it.  But  —  hark ! 
Oh,  joy!" 

From  somewhere  in  the  darkness  beloAV  a 
familiar  yelp  and  whine  sounded  faintly.  The 
roaring  of  the  wind  almost  drowned  it,  yet  she 
recognized  that  Punch  had  traced  and  followed 
her.  She  had  always  loved  him,  but  never  had 
he  been  so  adorable  as  at  that  moment.  His 
unseen  presence  comforted  her  so  that  she  called 
back  to  him  quite  cheerfully: 

"  Yes,  you  precious,  beautiful  dog !  Mistress 
is  up  here.  She's  coming !  Wait  for  her,  darling, 
darling  fellow !  " 


SQUIEE   PETTIJOHN  129 


It  is  possible  that  the  ugly-favored  little  animal 
appreciated  this  flattery,  or  he  may  have  had 
troubles  of  his  own  which  needed  comforting. 
Since  his  arrival  at  Marsden,  life  had  not  been 
all  chop-bones  for  him  any  more  than  it  had  been 
all  catnip  for  Sir  Philip,  and  the  short,  gay  bark 
with  which  he  now  responded  to  his  mistress'  cry- 
proved  their  mutual  satisfaction. 

At  last,  Katharine's  cautious  passage  came  to 
a  pause  as  her  fingers  touched  the  ladder,  but  she 
realized  that  a  misstep  would  send  her  over  that 
precipice  of  hay  into  the  bay  below,  which  now 
seemed  a  gulf  of  unfathomable  depth.  Inch  by 
inch,  with  greater  prudence  than  she  had  ever 
exercised,  she  moved  onward  in  the  gloom,  now 
become  almost  impenetrable,  till  she  got  one  foot 
upon  a  round  of  the  ladder. 

"  That's  good.  But  I  guess  I'd  see  better  if  I 
closed  my  eyes,  and  I  must  go  down  it  backwards. 
Now  I've  both  feet  on  and  —  dear  me !  How  far 
it  is  between  steps.  Why  don't  people  put  their 
rounds  closer  together,  so  they  wouldn't  be  so  hard 
to  climb?  I  was  never  on  a  ladder  before  except 
a  step  one,  and  that  not  often,  and  —  But  I'll 
manage." 

Manage  she  did  and  very  well,  until  she  had 
nearly  reached  the  bottom.  Then,  pushing  her 
foot  downward  where  one  of  the  rounds  had  been 
broken  out,  it  found  nothing  to  rest  upon  though 
she  stretched  it  to  her  utmost,   and  all  at  once 


130     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

everything  seemed  to  give  way  and  she  fell  back- 
wards. Fortunately,  the  distance  was  so  slight 
and  the  bay  so  carpeted  with  hay  that  no  serious 
harm  resulted ;  and  when  a  cold  wet  nose  was 
thrust  into  her  face  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  catch- 
ing Punch  in  her  arras  and  in  her  great  relief 
caressing  him  till  he  rebelled  and  wriggled  himself 
free. 

The  wind  did  not  roar  so  loudly  do^vn  there, 
and,  presently,  she  could  hear  things;  the  sound 
of  somebody  moving  about  on  the  barn  floor,  the 
opening  and  shutting  of  feed-boxes  and  stalls,  the 
swish  of  fodder  forked  to  the  cows  in  the  shed 
beyond,  and  could  also  see  the  gleam  of  lan- 
tern-light as  it  was  carried  to  and  fro. 

"  Hello !  "  cried  Katharine,  hurrying  to  the 
square  wnndow  through  which  she  and  Mont- 
gomery had  leaped  into  the  deep  bay,  but  whose 
lower  frame  even  was  so  far  above  her  head  that 
she  could  only  touch  it  by  stretching  her  arms 
to  their  utmost.  She  had  thought  it  a  big  jump 
then  and  had  not  considered  how  she  was  to  re- 
turn, but  now  the  full  difficulty  of  the  situation 
presented  itself,  and  her  heart  sank. 

"  Oh,  Punchy,  dearest !  I  guess  this  is  a  good 
deal  like  Susanna's  saying,  '  out  of  the  frying- 
pan  into  the  fire.'  Off  the  hay-mow  into  the  bay. 
I  don't  see  why  folks  build  barns  such  ways. 
Why  don't  they  have  just  regular  straight  floors 
and  things?     Wait,  pet.     Don't  rub  against  my 


SQUIEE   PETTIJOHN  131 

ankles  so  hard,  you  nearly  knock  me  over.  The 
man'll  come  back  in  a  minute  and  help  us  up. 
I  don't  see  how  you  ever  got  down  here  unless  you 
fell  down.  Hello!  Man!  Man!  Hel — lo! 
HELP ! " 

The  lantern  glimmer  appeared  once  more,  but 
at  the  extreme  end  of  the  building,  and  seemed 
rapidly  receding.  Then  there  came  the  sound  of 
a  heavy  door  slammed  forcibly  against  the  wind, 
the  rasp  of  a  bolt  in  its  lock,  and  Katharine  knew 
that  she  had  not  been  heard,  and  that  she  had  been 
shut  up  alone  in  the  great,  desolate  place. 

It  was  not  liking  for  Squire  Pettijohn  which 
had  caused  Montgomery  to  vanish  when  called 
to  meet  him.  Quite  the  reverse.  The  name  of 
that  man  of  mighty  girth  an,d  stature  struck 
terror  into  the  soul  of  every  young  Marsdenite. 
He  was  a  person  of  fierce  temper  and  a  propensity 
for  managing  his  neighbors'  affairs,  especially  the 
affairs  of  his  youthful  neighbors.  Report  said 
that  his  wealth  equalled  his  temper,  and  that  the 
two  together  made  most  of  the  villagers  stand  in 
awe  of  him  is  certain.  It  was  his  boast  that  he 
represented  the  cause  of  law  and  order  in  his 
native  town,  and  he  often  wondered  how  it  had 
gotten  along  before  he  was  bom,  or  how  it  would 
manage  when  he  was  dead. 

That  day  he  had  come  home  from  attending 
court  and  found  the  community  in  a  ferment.  It 
would   have  been   excited   even  by  the   news  of 


132  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

Moses'  accident  and  pluck,  but  the  tidings  of 
treasure-finding,  scattered  broadcast  by  Mont- 
gomery during  the  morning's  errands,  had  stirred 
its  profoundest  depths. 

When  the  lawyer  tied  his  horse  at  the  post-office, 
he  was  greeted  by  statements  as  various  as  many. 
"  Miss  Maitland  has  discovered  a  gold  mine  on 
her  property ;  "  "  Monty  Sturtevant  has  dug  up 
buried  treasure  in  Eunice's  woods ;  "  "  '  Johnny  ' 
Maitland's  girl  has  been  sent  home  to  fetch  Eunice 
a  box  of  diamonds;"  and  "There's  been  gold 
found  right  here  in  Marsden  township." 

These  were  but  the  beginnings  of  the  garbled 
reports  which  a  gossip-loving  lad  had  originated; 
yet  all  pointed  to  one  and  the  same  thing,  — 
Marsden  would  now  become  famous.  So  that 
more  than  ever  Squire  Petti  John  felt  it  good  to 
be  a  great  man  in  the  right  place.  In  all  the 
newspaper  notices  which  would  follow,  his  name, 
also,  would  appear,  and  notoriety  was  what  he 
coveted. 

Having  listened  to  one  and  all  versions  with 
fierce  attention,  he  repaired  to  his  dinner  and  con- 
sumed it  in  a  silence  which  his  observant  wife 
knew  betokened  affairs  of  unusual  weight.  But 
it  was  not  until  he  finished  his  dessert  and  pushed 
back  from  table  that  he  inform,ed  her: 

"  I  am  going  to  Eunice's.  Vast  wealth  has 
been  found  upon  her  premises,  and  she  needs  me. 


SQUIEE   PETTIJOHN  133 

Deny  me  to  all  smaller  clients  until  further 
notice." 

Then,  assuming  his  Sunday  attire  and  stiffest 
stock,  he  set  pompously  forth  down  the  tree- 
bordered  street,  caning  a  stray  dog  here,  there 
reprimanding  a  boy  who  might  be  playing 
"  hookey,"  —  though  was  not,  — ■  and  shaking 
his  fist  at  old  Whitey,  taking  her  accustomed 
stroll  in  and  out  of  inviting  dooryards.  Yet 
when  he  came  to  the  wider  yard  before  the  stone 
house  something  of  his  complaisance  left  him. 
*"  He  and  Eunice  Maitland  had  never  hitched." 
She  was  always  perfectly  courteous,  and  never 
failed  to  attend  the  sewing-meetings  of  the  church 
when  they  were  held  at  his  house,  and  she  had  even 
been  heard  to  say  that  she  had  "  a  great  respect 
for  Mrs.  Pettijohn."  She  might  have  put  a 
peculiar  emphasis  upon  the  "  Mrs.,"  but  then, 
everybody  has  his  or  her  tricks  of  speech  which 
mean  nothing. 

There  was  no  door-bell  at  The  Maples,  but  a 
polished  brass  knocker  announced  the  arrival  of 
any  visitor;  and  it  seemed  to  the  worried  Widow 
Sprigg  as  if  that  "  plaguey  knocker  had  done 
nothin'  but  whack  the  hull  endurin'  time  sence 
Moses  got  hurt.     I  wonder  who  'tis  this  time !  " 

Consequently,  the  door  was  opened  with  more 
impatience  than  courtesy  as  it  now  heralded  the 
arrival  of  the  Squire,   who  was  for  passing  at 


134     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

once  into  the  hall  had  not  something  in  Susanna's 
manner  caused  him  to  hesitate. 

"  Miss  Maitland.  Is  she  at  home  ?  Will  you 
present  my  card  to  her  and  say  that  I  have  called 
in  person  —  in  person  —  " 

"  Don't  see  how  you  could  have  called  any 
other  way,"  answered  the  greatly  tried  house- 
keeper, remembering  him  rather  as  "  little  Jimmy 
Pettijohn,"  whom  her  own  mother  had  used  to 
feed  and  befriend,  than  as  the  important  person- 
age he  had  since  become. 

"  Ah,  Susanna,  my  good  woman,  you  were 
always  facetious !  I  would  like  to  see  your  mis- 
tress. Please  announce  me  to  her  and  conduct 
me  to  the  drawing-room." 

It  was  a  mistaken  tone  and  the  widow  hesitated 
at  no  rudeness  which  would  protect  the  beloved 
"  friend "  with  whom  she  dwelt,  and  whom  it 
was  her  privilege  to  openly  call  by  the  familiar 
title  of  "  Eunice,"  which  this  "  Jimmy  "  dared 
not  do  save  behind  the  lady's  back. 

"  We  hain't  got  no  drawin'-room  here,  an' 
Eunice  ain't  seein'  no  more  folks  to-day,  not  if 
I  can  help  it.  I'm  sure  she  won't  see  no  men 
folks,  anyway.  We've  been  overrun  with  them, 
a'ready,  just  'cause  Moses  has  broke  his  leg  and 
a  few  his  ribs.  Accidents  happen  to  anybody  if 
they're  keerless,  an'  he  admits  he  was.  But  he's 
as  comfortable  as  can  be  expected,  thank  ye,  and 
good  day." 


SQUIEE   PETTIJOHN  135 

"  But,  Susanna,  not  so  fast.  I  came  to  offer 
my  services  in  regard  to  this  —  er  —  gold  mine 
which  the  little  Baltimore  girl  has  discovered." 

"  W-h-a-t  ?  "  gasped  the  widow  in  utter  amaze- 
ment.    Had  the  man  taken  leave  of  his  senses  ? 

"  The  gold  mine,  or  —  or  hidden  treasure  — 
or  casket  of  diamonds,  —  reports  vary ;  yet  all 
agree  in  the  fact  that  extraordinary  wealth  has 
been  unearthed  in  the  old  Maitland  woods.  Of 
course,  Eunice  being  unused  to  the  management 
of  large  affairs  and  only  a  woman  —  a  woman  — 
she  would  appreciate  the  help  of  an  experienced 
man.  I  trust  my  advice  may  prove  of  benefit 
to  her." 

The  Widow  Sprigg  listened  with  an  attention 
that  would  have  been  flattering  had  not  her  face 
evinced  her  incredulity.  As  it  was,  she  stood  for 
a  brief  time,  staring  over  her  spectacles  at  the 
big  man,  as  if  gazing  at  some  curiosity,  then  she 
laughed,  scornfully : 

"  Why,  Squire,  upon  my  word  I'm  sorry  for  ye ! 
Though  I  don't  know  who  'twas  'at  made  a  fool  of 
ye,  but  fool  you  have  been  made,  and  no  mistake. 
Such  a  balderdash  as  that !  Why,  man  alive,  don't 
you  s'pose  if  anything  worth  findin'  had  been 
found  on  Eunice's  property  she'd  ha'  told  me  the 
first  one  ?  An'  me  an'  her  livin'  like  sisters,  so 
to  speak,  even  sence  I  growed  up,  savin'  the  spell 
whilst  Mr.  Sprigg,  he  was  alive.  Two  years  I 
spent  in  my  own  house  't  Mr.  Sprigg  he  built,  on 


136     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

his  own  piece  of  woodland  'j'inin'  hers,  and  she 
buyin'  it  off  me  soon's  he  departed.  The  prettiest 
little  house  in  the  hull  township,  'tis,  too,  an' 
where  I  'xpect  to  end  my  days  if  I  outlive  her, 
which  I  hope  I  won't.  An'  her  needin'  business 
*  advice,'  indeed !  When  there  ain't  a  man  in 
Marsden,  let  alone  all  the  women,  can  hold  a 
candle  to  her  for  gumption  an'  clear-headedness. 
An'  her  sayin'  to  me  then,  ^  Susanna,  it  will  do 
you  more  good  to  sell  to  me  an'  put  your  money 
out  to  int'rest  'an  to  have  a  lot  of  wuthless  land 
on  your  hands,  an'  you  shall  keep  the  little  cot- 
tage for  your  own  as  long  as  you  live.'  So  we 
done  it,  an'  she  paid  me  more'n  the  market  price ; 
an'  has  left  me  the  house  all  untouched,  with  my 
own  furniture  in  it,  an'  me  goin'  out  there  twicet 
a  year  for  spring  an'  fall  cleanin,'  an'  even 
leavin'  the  kitchen-bedroom  bed  made  up,  case  I 
get  the  hypo  an'  feel  like  bein'  by  myself  a  spell." 

"  I  know,  I  know,  Susanna.  I've  heard  of 
Eunice's  generosity  to  you,  and  of  your  whimsical 
retention  of  an  empty  house.  You  ought  to  let 
it  to  some  decent  tenant  and  get  some  benefit 
of  it.  Upon  second  thoughts,  I  would  advise 
you  to  sell  it.  Now  that  this  treasure  has  been 
found  you  might  realize  well  on  it.  I  —  Why, 
I  don't  know  but  I  might  be  induced  to  take  it 
off  your  hands  myself,  just  to  do  a  friendly  deed 
to  an  old  schoolmate." 

Squire  Pettijohn  had  managed  to  stem  the  tide 


SQUIRE  PETTIJOHN  137 


of  her  garrulity  long  enough  to  interpose  this 
speech  of  his  own,  and  to  act  upon  an  idea  which 
had  just  occurred  to  him:.  The  value  of  the  old 
Maitland  forest  would  leap  to  fabulous  height 
if  the  rumor  that  gold  had  been  discovered  there 
proved  true.  But  he  did  not  intend  to  offer 
much  for  the  "  deserted  cabin,"  convenient  though 
it  might  be  to  the  possible  mine,  upon  the  strength 
of  a  mere  rumor,  and  even  though  the  chance 
existed  of  the  same  vein  of  wealth  extending 
even  so  far.  He  would  first  get  confirmation  of 
the  story  from  Miss  Maitland's  own  lips  and 
would  then  act  with  his  eyes  open. 

He  was  not  succeeding  very  well  in  his  errand 
of  "  neighborly  kindness,"  for  Susanna  still  held 
the  door  so  nearly  closed  that  he  could  not  force 
an  entrance,  even  though  he  kept  his  foot  firmly 
in  the  aperture.  The  woman  still  regarded  him 
with  a  pitying  amusement;  yet  gradually  curi- 
osity got  the  better  of  her  comnrnn  sense,  which 
told  her  that  he  was  the  victim  of  some  hoax,  and 
she  inquired: 

"  Who  told  you  such  a  yarn,  Squire  ?  " 

^'  Please  admit  me.  I  am  not  accustomed  to 
being  kept  on  people's  thresholds  when  I  take  time 
out  of  my  busy  life  to  call  upon  them  ;  and  no  one 
person  in  especial  told  me.  The  talk  is  in  every- 
body's mouth,  and  the  whole  village  has  gone  wild 
over  the  matter." 

"  But  it  must  have  had  some  sort  o'  beginnin'. 


138  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

Wild  goose  gabble  like  that  don't  spring  full- 
fledged  out  the  ground,  I  know.  Who  —  started 
tlie  ridic'lous  business  ? "  persisted  the  house- 
keeper, almost  unconsciously  opening  the  door 
somewhat  wider. 

Squire  Petti  John  improved  this  opportunity 
and  made  his  way  into  the  hall  before  she  re- 
membered that  she  had  not  intended  to  admit 
him.  In  any  case,  she  instantly  reflected  he 
shouldn't  see  her  mistress,  whom  he  had  had  the 
impertinence  to  speak  of  as  "  Eunice." 

But  her  reflection  came  too  late.  Miss  Mait- 
land  was  already  descending  the  wide  stairs,  and 
had  paused  at  the  half-way  landing,  to  observe 
who  was  this  latest  visitor  of  the  many  who  had 
called  to  ask  for  Moses.  Called,  also,  it  may  be, 
to  learn  something  further  concerning  the  inter- 
esting "  treasure." 

But  none  save  this  gentleman  had  ventured  to 
speak  to  her  of  what  was,  in  reality,  her  own 
affair,  and  she  had  not  encouraged  inquirers  to 
remain.  Privacy  had  never  seemed  so  desirable 
to  her  as  on  that  fateful  morning  nor  so  difficult 
to  maintain;  and  though  there  was  no  rudeness, 
her  neighbors  went  away  with  the  feeling  that: 

"  Eunice  Maitland's  just  as  proud  and  reserved 
as  ever.  Moses'  trouble  and  her  own  great  fortune 
don't  make  a  bit  of  difference,  and  she  makes  you 
feel,  without  saying  a  word,  that  your  room  is 
better  than  your  company;    and  that  she'll  keep 


SQUIKE   PETTIJOHN  139 

her  own  counsel  in  this  matter  as  she  has  always 
done  in  smaller  ones." 

"  Good  afternoon,  Miss  Eunice !  Accept  my 
hearty  congratulations !  "  cried  Squire  Pettijohn, 
pushing  eagerly  forward  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs, 
and  bowing  to  her  descending. 

"  Good  afternoon,  Squire  Pettijohn.  You  are 
very  kind  to  come  and  inquire  for  my  poor  friend, 
Mr.  Jones.  I  am  glad  to  tell  you  that  the  doctor 
says  he  will  do  very  well,  but  sorry  to  add  that  he 
will  be  a  prisoner  indoors  for  a  long  time.  Is 
Mrs.  Pettijohn  quite  well  ?  " 

So  speaking,  and  with  the  manner  of  one  who 
has  expected  but  one  kind  of  interest  in  affairs 
at  The  Maples,  yet  knowing  perfectly  well  that  the 
Squire  would  never  have  troubled  himself  about 
a  "  hired  man's "  misfortunes,  Aunt  Eunice 
walked  with  her  visitor  toward  the  door.  She  was 
puzzled  by  his  presence,  but  did  not  enjoy  it,  and 
was  herself  going  just  then  to  read  the  Weekly 
Journal  to  her  injured  helper.  She  did  not  take 
the  hint  given  by  the  Squire's  pause  beside  the 
sitting-room  door,  and  moved  gently  forward  to 
the  outer  entrance,  as  if  to  terminate  the  inter- 
view. 

"  Make  my  regards  to  your  good  wife,  Squire, 
and  thank  her  for  sending  to  inquire.  Moses  is 
much  touched  and  gratified  by  the  good-will  of 
his  neighbors,  and  has  bad  many  calls  already. 


140  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

But  doctor  says  he  should  see  nobody  except  our- 
selves for  the  present.     Good  afternoon." 

They  had  now  reached  the  doorway  and 
Susanna  stood  at  one  side,  keenly  observant  of 
the  other  two,  and  suddenly  breaking  into  their 
talk  with  the  exclamation : 

"  Well,  Eunice !  What  do  you  think's  sent 
Jimmy  Petti  John  a-visitin'  us?  Not  none  of 
Moses'  troubles,  but  to  hear  about  the  '  gold 
mine  '  was  found  in  the  big  woods  this  mornin' ! 
Did  you  ever  hear  the  beat  ?  " 

"  A  gold  mine  ?  Surely,  he  knows  how  absurd 
such  an  idea  would  be,"  answered  Aunt  Eunice, 
quietly  bowing  and  turning  away. 

As  she  disappeared  in  the  hall  beyond  the  stair- 
way the  Squire  coughed  and  started  to  follow, 
then  apparently  thought  better  of  it,  for  he  merely 
reproved  Susanna  with  his  most  judicial  stern- 
ness, saying: 

"  If  you  women  would  be  careful  to  repeat 
things  as  you  hear  them  you  would  save  much 
confusion.  It  is  true  I  did  mention  '  gold  mine,' 
but  I  also  mentioned  a  hidden  box  of  treasure. 
The  majority  of  the  villagers  claimed  the  latter 
was  what  was  really  found,  and  —  " 

"  Who  started  such  a  cock-an'-bull  story  ? 
Must  have  had  a  beginnin'  in  somebody's  mouth." 

Susanna  had  now  become  not  only  indignant 
but  profoundly  curious.  She  would  find  out  who 
was  responsible  for  this  strange  rumor,  then  she 


SQUIEE   PETTIJOHN  141 

would  promptly  interview  that  person  and  cross- 
examine  him  as  only  a  woman  could.  But  the 
reply  which  she  received  astonished  her  more  than 
the  story  had  done. 

"  It  was  that  stamjnering  little  grandson  of 
the  Madam's.  He  and  the  little  girl  who's  staying 
here  were  the  discoverers.  So  I  was  told," 
answered  the  Squire,  making  ready  to  depart. 

"  Well,  I  declare !  If  'twas  ary  one  o'  them 
we  can  soon  settle  their  hash.  Come  with  me, 
Squire,  I  saw  the  pair  goin'  into  the  barn  a  little 
spell  ago,  an'  I  hain't  seen  'em  come  out.  Katy, 
she  don't  know  you  —  an'  so  ain't  afraid  of  ye. 
She  ain't  afraid  of  anything  I've  seen  yet;  but 
Monty  —  Hm-m.  I  can  leave  Monty  to  you  to 
deal  with.  My  suz !  If  this  ain't  been  the  great- 
est day  that  ever  I  saw !  " 

With  which  remark  she  led  the  way  to  the  foot 
of  the  hay-mow  and  sent  up  the  summons  which 
had  caused  Montgomery's  sudden  disappearance. 


CHAPTER    X. 

alfaeetta's  peeplexity 

"Alfy!     A-A-Alfy!" 

Her  name  hissed  into  her  ear  partially  roused 
the  bound-out  girl  from  a  nap  she  had  been  tak- 
ing with  the  towel  in  one  hand,  an  unwiped  dish  in 
the  other.  She  had  the  faculty  of  going  to  sleep 
anywhere  and  any  time  opportunity  offered.  She 
now  leaned  comfortably  against  the  wall  beside  the 
sink,  her  eyes  closed  and  her  mind  oblivious  to 
her  surroundings,  and  dimly  hearing  through  her 
dreams  that  sibilant  call: 

"A-A-A-Alfy!" 

Then  her  ear  was  pinched  and  she  brought  back 
to  reality. 

"  What  you  doin'  to  me,  Montgomery  Sturte- 
vant  ?    I'll  tell  your  grandma !  " 

"  Ain't  meanin'  to  hurt  you,  A-A-Alfy.  I  — 
Don't  you  d-do  that.  I  —  Say,  I'm  goin'  to  h-h- 
hide  in  the  s-s-secret  chamb — er.  Don't  you 
t-t-tell  anybody.  You  fetch  my  s-s-s-supper  up 
after  dark.  An'  some  w-w-water.  Fetch  enough 
142 


ALFARETTA'S   PERPLEXITY  143 

to  1-1-last  —  forever!     I  don't  know  as  I  s-s-shall 
ever  —  ever  —  dare   to   c-c-come   down." 

The  Mansion  where  the  Sturtevants  had  lived 
during  many  generations  was  a  house  even  older 
than  The  Maples.  It  was  far  more  quaintly 
ancient  in  style,  and  had  been  one  of  the  many 
"  Headquarters  "  of  our  Revolutionary  generals. 
The  earliest  built  house  in  the  county,  the  part 
first  erected  still  stood  strong  and  intact,  though 
little  used  now.  On  this  portion  of  the  Mansion 
the  roof  ended  sharp  at  the  eaves  on  one  side,  and 
but  a  few  feet  above  the  ground ;  the  opposite  side 
being  two  full  stories  and  attic  in  height.  Within 
this  "  old  part  "  were  many  curious  rooms,  one 
having  the  peculiarity  of  seven  doors  and  but 
one  window;  a  monster  fireplace,  wherein  one 
could  stand  and  look  straight  up  to  the  sky  through 
the  great  stone  chimney,  and  where  still  hung  a 
rusty  gigantic  crane,  once  used  for  the  roasting  of 
meats  and  boiling  of  pots;  but,  most  curious  of 
all,  a  perpendicular  shaft  leading  to  a  "  secret 
chamber  "  beneath  the  sloping  roof.  To  ascend 
this  shaft  one  climbed  upon  small  triangular 
steps  fitted  alternately  in  the  rear  comers  of  it; 
and  it  was  entered  through  a  sliding,  spring- 
secured  panel  of  the  "  keeping-room."  No 
stranger  would  have  discovered  that  the  panel 
was  a  doorway,  and  even  to  Alfaretta  it  suggested 
deeds  of  darkness  and  treachery.  The  utmost 
Montgomery  had  yet  been  able  to  persuade  her  to 


144     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

do  was  to  peep  fearfully  up  that  uncanny  stair- 
way, from  the  dimness  below  to  the  utter  gloom 
at  top.  To  ascend  it,  as  he  did,  nimbly  hand  over 
hand  —  the  mere  thought  of  it  set  her  shuddering. 

Now  he  was  gone,  and  —  there !  She  knew  it. 
She  heard  him  softly  crossing  the  bare  floor  of  the 
''  old  part  "  in  his  stockinged  feet,  heard  the  rusty 
squeak  of  the  ancient  spring-fastening,  fancied 
that  she  heard  —  though  she  could  not  —  his 
swift  ascent  of  the  ladder  stairs,  and  —  heard 
no  more. 

But  she  was  now  far  wider  awake  than  the 
pinch  on  her  ear  had  made  her,  and  she  was 
terribly  disturbed.  In  that  house  everybody, 
meaning  Madam,  and  herself,  did  what  its  young 
"  master  "  desired.  Of  course  on  the  lady's  part 
there  were  some  exceptions  to  this  rule,  but  none 
whatever  on  Alfaretta's.  The  lad  was  at  once 
her  delight  and  her  torment ;  in  his  wilder  moods 
teasing  her  relentlessly,  but  in  his  more  thought- 
ful ones  pitying  her  for  her  hard  lot  in  life.  Yet, 
in  fact,  since  the  girl  had  been  taken  from  the 
"  county  farm  "  to  serve  Madam  Sturtevant  until 
she  should  be  eighteen,  she  was  scarcely  poorer 
than  the  mistress  who  employed  her,  and  who 
scrupulously  shared  her  own  comforts  with  her 
charge. 

Big  as  the  house  was,  there  was  very  little 
money  in  it.  None  whatever  would  have  been 
there  save  for  the  generosity  of  distant  relatives 


ALFAEETTA'S   PEEPLEXITY  145 

who  regularly  sent  a  small  cheque  to  the  Madam, 
as  well  as  a  box  of  clothing  for  the  grandson ;  nor 
did  they  even  dream  that  upon  that  cheque  and 
the  neighborly  kindness  of  Eunice  Maitland  the 
household  at  the  mansion  existed. 

Fortunately,  for  the  present,  Alfaretta  de- 
manded nothing  in  the  matter  of  wages.  When 
she  should  be  eighteen  the,  to  h§r,  almost  fabulous 
sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  would  be  her  due  as 
well  as  a  decent  "  fitting  out  "  of  wearing  apparel. 
Then  she  would  be  free  to  go  or  stay,  work  for 
"  real  wages  "  for  this  mistress,  or  engage  herself 
to  another.  But  eighteen  was  a  long  way  off  as 
yet,  and  though  sometimes  a  wonder  as  to  where 
she  should  get  the  pledged  one  hundred  dollars 
did  cross  Madam  Sturtevant's  mind,  she  put  the 
thought  aside  as  soon  as  possible.  Sufficient 
unto  that  day  would  be  its  own  evil,  and  there 
had  been  days  in  the  past  far  more  evil  than 
Alfy's  coming  of  age  could  ever  be. 

Had  relic-hunters  known  it  the  Mansion  was  a 
storehouse  of  genuine  "  antiques "  which  would 
have  been  eagerly  purchased  at  fancy  prices; 
but  Marsden  was  far  out  of  the  line  of  such  per- 
sons, and,  save  in  extreme  necessity,  the  old 
gentlewoman  would  have  refused  to  part  with  her 
belongings. 

Eunice,  who  was  better  informed  on  such 
matters  because  of  her  wider  reading,  had  once 
delicately  suggested  to  her  friend  that  such  or 


146     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

such  an  old  "  claw-foot "  was  worth  a  deal  of 
money,  and  that  it  wasn't  really  necessary  to 
have  four  tall  clocks,  each  more  than  a  century 
old,  ticking  the  hours  away  in  that  empty  house. 

But  her  suggestion  was  wholly  misunderstood. 
Madam  had  rather  crisply  replied  that  she  was 
perfectly  capable  of  winding  the  clocks  on  the 
one  day  in  eight  when  they  required  it,  and  hoped 
to  continue  so  till  her  life's  end.  Indeed,  it  had 
used  to  be  a  rather  formal  little  household  cere- 
mony—  that  winding  of  the  clocks  on  every 
Sunday  morning.  A  ceremony  that  had  always 
been  performed  by  the  two  reigning  heads  of  the 
"  family "  in  each  succeeding  generation.  It 
had  been  Madam's  place  to  walk  with  her  husband 
from  room  to  room  and  stand  beside  him  while 
with  the  queer  old  keys  he  wound  the  weights  up 
from  the  bottom  of  the  upright  eases  to  the  top, 
whence  they  would  again  begin  their  slow 
descent  to  the  bottom,  reaching  it  as  another  Lord's 
Day  came  around. 

Nowadays,  Montgomery,  as  the  last  of  his  race, 
had  been  promoted  to  accompany  his  grand- 
mother on  this  clock-winding  tour,  and  had  once 
innocently  asked: 

"  Did  my  father  use  to  go  with  y-you,  as  I-I-I 
do  ?  " 

Strangely  enough,  he  had  never  before  inquired 
much  about  his  parents,  but  had  somehow  im- 
bibed the  knowledge  that  both  were  dead.     His 


ALFAEETTA'S   PERPLEXITY  147 

father  had  once  "  gone  away "  and  never  re- 
turned; but  his  mother  had  come  home,  bringing 
him!  an  infant,  had  placed  him  in  the  Madam's 
arms,  had  taken  to  her  bed,  and  had  left  it  only 
to  be  carried  to  the  burying-ground  on  the  hill. 
Of  her  the  old  lady  often  talked,  and  once  when 
they  had  carried  roses  to  the  unmarked  grave  he 
had  heard  her  softly  quote :  "  A  sweeter  woman 
ne'er  drew  breath,  than  my  son's  wife,  Elizabeth." 

But  of  that  son,  her  own  only  child,  she  said 
nothing  till  he  asked  that  unfortunate  question. 
Then  she  had  turned  upon  him  with  a  face  so 
unlike  her  own  that  he  was  frightened  and  needed 
no  command  to  make  him  avoid  that  subject 
forever  after, 

"  Your  father  is  —  gone ;  has  died  to  us. 
Speak  of  him  no  more." 

The  tragedy  of  her  expression  haunted  him 
for  a  time,  and  he  wondered  why  she  was  so  much 
more  distressed  by  mention  of  her  son  than  of 
her  husband,  since  both  were  dead.  However, 
he  soon  forgot  the  matter  save  to  obey  her  wish, 
though  afterward  this  clock-winding,  which  he  had 
thought  a  "  bother  an'  n-n-nuisance,"  seemed  fully 
as  sacred  an  act  as  the  church-going  which  fol- 
lowed it. 

This,  then,  was  Montgomery's  home  and  life, 
and  why  he  who  was  so  petted  and  indulged  should 
put  himself  in  hiding,  and,  of  all  places,  in  that 
dreadful   "  secret   chamber,"   puzzled   Alfaretta, 


148  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

"  He  told  me  not  to  tell  Madam,  an'  he  told  me 
to  bring  his  supper.  How  can  I  ?  How  dast  I  ? 
I  —  I'd  be  more  afraid  to  go  up  that  stair  'an  to 
walk  through  the  graveyard  alone  at  midnight. 
I  would  so,  Ma'am  Puss,  an'  you  keep  your  nose 
out  that  suppawn,  I  tell  you !  " 

The  perturbed  little  maid  felt  that  it  was  good 
to  have  even  a  cat  to  talk  to,  and  vented  some  of 
her  vexation  by  kicking  the  unlucky  animal  aside 
from  the  pot,  whose  hot  contents  she  was  merely 
sniffing.  Suppawn  and  milk  was  the  customary 
supper  at  the  Mansion,  and  as  its  mistress  liked 
to  have  the  pudding  cooked  for  a  long  time  and 
also  continually  stirred  during  that  operation, 
Alfaretta  had  become  expert  in  the  matter  of 
managing.  The  pot  was  duly  put  on  at  the  hour 
appointed,  and  the  Indian  meal  carefully  sifted 
into  the  salt,  boiling  water.  When  the  mixture 
appeared  fairly  smooth  and  Alfy's  arm  was  tired 
the  pot  was  set  upon  the  hearth  and  the  young 
cook  went  to  sleep.  When  the  sleep  was  of  suffi- 
cient length  to  cool  the  porridge  Ma'am  Puss 
extracted  her  own  supper  in  advance  of  the 
family's,  and  nobody  was  the  wiser.  But  to-day, 
Alfaretta  had  forgotten  to  remove  the  pot  from 
the  stove  while  she  did  her  "  noon  dishes  "  and 
taken  her  intermediate  nap,  with  the  result  that 
the  suppawn  was  burned  and  even  the  cat 
wouldn't  touch  it.  And  although  she  had  whisked 
it  off  the  fire  as  soon  as  Monty  had  disappeared, 


MA  AM   PUSS    EXTUACTED   HER  OWN  SUPPER  IN  ADVANCE 
OF    THE    family's  " 


ALFAEETTA'S   PERPLEXITY  149 

her  trained  nose  told  her  that  this  was  a  supper 
spoiled  for  everybody.  She  was  very  sorry  for 
Madam,  who  would  try  to  eat  it,  and  always  bore 
more  patiently  with  her  young  handmaid  than 
that  person  wholly  deserved,  but  there  was  a 
silver  lining  to  that  cloud!  Montgomery  would 
never  touch  suppawn  if  it  were  scorched:  there- 
fore, she  need  carry  him  none  of  it. 

"  Couldn't  have  got  any  milk  up  there,  anyway, 
without  spillin'  it,  Ma'am  Puss,  an'  you  know  it. 
Goody !  Course  he'll  come  down.  He'll  have 
to  if  he  gets  starvin'  hungry.  No  harm  done  — 
much.  I  wonder  what  he's  been  up  to  now ! 
Well,  I  can't  help  it.  I  didn't  get  him  into  no 
scrapes.  An'  I'll  work  real  hard  the  rest  the 
afternoon,  hemmin'  that  petticoat  Madam's  give 
me  to  make  over  for  myself.  It'll  be  a  real  good 
petticoat  if  I  ever  get  it  done,  though  it's  about 
forty  rods  around  the  bottom,  I  believe." 

Full  of  good  intentions,  Alfaretta  carefully 
set  the  burned  pudding  back  on  the  stove, 
wherein  the  wood  fire  had  nearly  gone  out,  and 
sat  down  to  her  task  of  needlework.  In  reality, 
she  was  a  very  tired  little  girl.  Madam  was 
daintily  neat  and  vigorous  for  a  woman  of  her 
years.  Never  very  robust,  she  still  exercised 
what  strength  she  had  in  a  ceaseless  round  of 
sweeping  and  dusting.  All  the  empty  old  rooms 
were  as  orderly  as  when  there  had  been  many 
servants  to  attend  them,  but  this  was  accomplished 


150     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

at  a  cost  of  incessant  labor  and  watchfulness, 
which  the  mistress  really  enjoyed  since  it  filled 
her  days  with  "  things  to  do,"  but  which  was  not 
so  well  liked  by  her  bond-maid. 

Ma'am  Puss  curled  herself  at  Alfy's  feet  and 
purred  herself  to  sleep  so  soundly  that  a  tame 
mouse,  the  girl's  own  especial  pet,  came  out  from 
hiding  and  scampered  merrily  about  the  kitchen 
floor.  The  chorus  of  clock-ticks  sounded  drowsily 
through  the  silent  house.  Madam  was  taking  her 
daily  rest  on  her  lounge  in  the  sitting-room,  and 
after  a  time  the  seamstress's  good  intentions  passed 
into  a  maze  of  dreams.  In  them  she  seemed  to  be 
eternally  climbing  steep  stairs  into  a  chamber  of 
horrors  tenanted  by  one  starving  boy;  or  she 
was  watching  Madam  choke  to  death  over  a  lump 
of  hot  scorched  porridge ;  or  she  was  being  tossed 
on  the  horns  of  Squire  Pettijohn's  black  bull,  — 
the  terror  of  all  young,  and  some  old,  Marsden- 
ites,  —  and  from  this  last  dream  she  awoke  to 
find  the  kitchen  quite  dark,  and  Whitey  mooing 
outside  the  window. 

It  was  Montgomery's  place  to  "  tend  cow,"  the 
lonely  remnant  of  a  once  large  herd,  but  it  was 
Alfaretta's  duty  to  milk  it. 

"  Yes,  Whitey !  It's  all  right,  an'  for  once 
you've  come  home  by  yourself.  A  good  job,  too. 
Let  me  see.  How  fur  have  I  sewed  ?  To  there  — 
to  there  !  "  sleepily  murmured  the  maid,  and 
realizing  that  she  had  on  that  afternoon  of  best 


ALFAEETTA'S   PEEPLEXITY  151 

intentions  accomplished  the  magnificent  distance 
of  two  inches !  "  Two  inches,  if  it's  a  stitch.  Two 
inches  a  day  for —  How  many  days  will  it 
take  to  hem  —  to  hem  —  Huh !  I  can't  bother ! 
But  if  I'm  to  go  to  school  next  quarter  as  Madam 
says  I  may,  I'll  have  to  do  faster  'n  that.  Might 
get  it  ready  for  my  outfit,  like  Monty  says,"  re- 
marked the  sewer  to  herself,  laughing  carelessly. 

Folding  the  garment  neatly,  she  put  it  back 
in  the  work-basket  her  mistress  had  given  her,  and 
taking  her  pail,  went  out  to  milk  old  Whitey. 
But  first  she  attended  to  what  was  properly  Mont- 
gomery's part  of  the  evening's  chores,  stalling  the 
cow  and  throwing  into  her  manger  the  scanty 
supply  of  night  fodder  that  could  be  afforded. 
Then  she  sat  down  to  milk,  and  accomplished 
that  operation  so  slowly  that  Whitey  turned  her 
head  as  far  as  the  stanchions  would  permit  to  see 
what  this  slowness  meant. 

With  the  coming  of  the  dusk  Alfaretta's  per- 
plexities had  returned  and  brought  others  with 
them.  It  Was  not  only  a  question  of  the  boy's 
going  supperless  —  nor  her  courage,  nor  of  burned 
porridge  and  Madam's  lifted  eyebrows  when  it 
was  tasted,  which  to  the  bond-girl  was  "  Worse 
'an  a  lickin' ;  "  it  was  that  further  one  of  the 
grandmother's  inquiries.  How  should  she  answer 
them? 

She  loitered  as  long  as  she  could,  but  the 
evil   hour   could   not   be    indefinitely   postponed. 


152     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

Madam's  habits  were  as  exact  as  those  of  her 
ancient  clocks,  and  precisely  as  the  four  of  them 
were  striking  six  the  little  silver  bell  tinkled  in 
the  dining-room. 

With  an  air  of  every-day  indiiference,  Alfar- 
etta  dished  the  burned  porridge  upon  a  delicate 
china  platter  and  filled  a  cut-glass  pitcher  with 
milk.  These  she  placed  upon  a  silver  tray  and 
carried  to  the  shining  mahogany  table  where  the 
mistress  was  already  seated.  Then  she  took  her 
own  place  behind  the  lady's  chair,  as  she  had  been 
trained,  ready  to  serve  the  simple  meal;  yet 
hardly  had  she  stationed  herself  there  than  the 
dreaded  question  came: 

"  Where  is  Montgomery,   Alf  aretta  ?  " 

"  Oh,  dear !  How  not  to  tell  the  truth  an' 
how  not  to  lie !  "  reflected  the  perplexed  girl,  but 
not  till  the  question  was  repeated  did  she  reply: 
"  I  s'pose  he's  —  he's  somewheres." 

Madam's  eyebrows  were  lifted  then.  "  Why, 
Alfaretta !  " 

"  Yes,  Madam.  I'm  sorry  the  suppawn 
scorched.  I  —  I  was  terr'ble  sleepy  an'  I  stopped 
stirrin'  a  little  minute  an'  first  I  knew  —  " 

"  I  asked  for  Montgomery.  Did  you  tell  him 
that  supper  was  served  ?  " 

"  No,  Madam." 

"  Please  do  so." 

Glad  of  any  reprieve  from  giving  the  answer 
she  hated  to  make,  the  girl  left  the  room  in  haste, 


ALFAEETTA'S   PERPLEXITY  153 

as  if  intent  upon  summoning  the  lad.  But  she  was 
gone  longer  than  seemed  necessary,  nor  did  the 
waiting  grandmother  hear  the  boyish  voice  she 
loved,  despite  its  stammering ;  and  she  was  herself 
just  rising  to  look  for  the  lad  herself  when  the 
maid  reentered,  pale  and  breathless,  and  evidently 
frightened  in  extreme. 


CHAPTER   XL 

THE    FACE    IN    THE    DAKKNESS 

Miss  Maitland  had  promptly  engaged  Deacon 
Meakin  to  take  Moses'  place  during  the  latter's 
enforced  idleness,  and  the  arrangement  promised 
to  be   satisfactory  to   all  concerned. 

Susanna  had  observed: 

"  You  couldn't  do  better,  Eunice.  The  dea- 
con's forehanded  himself,  but  he  likes  money  — 
all  them  Meakins  do  —  an'  he's  been  as  oneasy 
as  a  fish  out  o'  water  sence  he  sold  his  farm  an' 
moved  into  the  village.  A  man  'at's  been  used  to 
workin'  seventeen  hours  a  day,  ever  sence  he  was 
born  till  he's  turned  sixty,  ain't  goin'  to  be  con- 
tent to  lie  abed  till  six  seven  o'clock  in  the  mornin' 
an'  spend  the  rest  the  day  splittin'  kindlin'-wood 
to  keep  a  parlor  stove  a-goin'.  He'll  be  glad  o'  the 
job,  an'  he'll  be  glad  o'  the  wages,  an'  he'll  break 
his  neck  tryin'  to  do  more  an'  better'n  Moses 
ever  did.  You  couldn't  do  better.  It's  a  ill  wind 
that  blows  nobody  good,  an'  Moseses  misfortune 
is  the  deacon's  blessin'." 

154 


THE   FACE  IN  THE  DARKNESS     155 

There  was  something  else  which  made  the  good 
deacon  accept  Miss  Maitland's  offer  with  so  much 
alacrity.     According  to  his  own  wife: 

"  The  deacon  he  feels  terr'ble  sot-up  bein' 
selected  to  become  one  the  family,  so  to  speak, 
right  now  on  the  top  of  that  treasure  findin'. 
I  ain't  seen  him  walk  so  straight  or  step  'round  so 
lively,  not  sence  we  moved  in.  An'  whatever  the 
truth  is  in  this  queer  business,  he'll  fathom  it, 
trust  him!  or  bust." 

This,  to  a  next-door  neighbor,  as  the  gentleman 
in  question  set  off  down  the  street  to  enter  upon 
his  new  duties. 

So  it  was  the  deacon  whom  Katharine  had 
heard  busy  about  the  barn  and  the  glimmer  of 
whose  lantern  had  disappeared  in  the  distance. 
With  a  precaution  his  predecessor  in  office  had 
never  practised,  he  had  secured  every  shutter 
and  window  and  locked  every  door  before  he 
crossed  the  driveway  between  barn  and  house 
and  entered  the  kitchen,  where  Susanna  was 
toasting  bread  for  supper.  As  he  blew  out  the 
candle  in  the  lantern  and  deposited  that  ancient 
luminary  on  the  lean-to  shelf,  he  rubbed  his  hands 
complacently,  and  observed: 

"Well,  Widow  Sprigg,  I  cal'late  I've  done 
things  up  brown.  Winds  may  blow  an'  waves 
may  roar,  as  the  poet  says,  but  nobody  nor  nothing 
can't  break  into  Eunice's  buildin's  whilst  I  have 
the  care  on  'em.    How's  he  doin'  2  " 


156     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

As  Moses  was  the  only  "  he  "  on  the  premises 
the  question  naturally  referred  to  him. 

"  Oh,  he's  all  right  enough.  I  mean,  right 
as  he  can  be,  stove  to  pieces  like  he  is.  One  good 
sign  about  him  — ■  He's  crosser'n  fury.  All 
said  an'  done  that  me  or  Eunice  could  to  please 
him,  and  he  won't  be  pleased.  Wants  them 
childern,  an'  the  mis'able  things  have  skedaddled 
somewheres  an'  can't  be  found." 

The  deacon  recognized  an  opportunity.  He 
drew  his  chair  up  to  the  fireplace,  where,  above 
a  bed  of  glowing  coals,  Susanna  was  making  her 
toast,  and  said: 

"  There,  neighbor,  you  look  clear  tuckered  out, 
an'  no  wonder  with  what  all  you've  gone  through 
to-day.  Hand  me  the  fork.  I'll  help  you.  I 
hain't  been  ma's  husband  forty  year  without 
learnin'  how  to  toast  a  slice  of  bread.  An',  my 
sake!  Ain't  it  all  just  wonderful!  An'  what 
in  power  do  you  s'pose  she'll  do  with  it  all  ?  " 

Susanna  rather  reluctantly  yielded  the  toaster, 
looking  speculatively  over  her  spectacles  at  her 
would-be  helper.  Here  was  another  man  gone 
daft,  or  apparently  so.  Then  she  remarked, 
testily : 

"  I  don't  see  what's  happened  all  you  men  to 
talk  so  odd.  Here's  Jim  Pettijohn  been  here 
a-offerin'  his  services  to  help  Eunice  look  after  a 
gold  mow,  or  somethin'.  An'  me  that  surprised 
you  could  knock  me  down  with  a  feather,  just  to 


THE   FACE   IN   THE  DAEKNESS     157 

see  him  walkin'  up  our  front  path.  We  ain't 
never  had  no  'casion  for  visits  from  the  Squire  — 
not  sence  he  got  to  be  one.  Before  then,  years  ago, 
when  he  was  a  humbly  little  barefoot  shaver 
runnin'  'round  loose,  'cause  his  ma  was  too  poor  to 
feed  him,  why  the  Maitlands  used  to  half  keep 
him.  We  none  of  us  Maitlands  has  ever  liked 
him,  though.  And  now  you —  It  ain't  for  the 
love  of  toastin'  bread  that  you've  set  yourself 
down  'longside  this  fireplace,  Deacon  Meakin, 
and  I  do  wish  you'd  put  me  out  my  misery  an' 
tell  plump  and  straight  what's  possessin'  this 
village  of  Marsden  this  day !  " 

"  You  pretend  you  don't  know,  widow  ?  " 
"  'No,  1  don't  pretend.  I  never  '  pretended  ' 
a  thing  in  my  life.  I  say  plain  an'  square  what 
I  mean  an'  no  hints  nor  inyendys  about  it.  Now, 
I  ask  you  as  man  to  man,  or  widow  to  deacon, 
what's  all  this  fuss  beyond  just  Moses  gettin'  his 
bones  broke  ?  There's  something,  and  it  seems  to 
belong  to  our  folks,  yet  me  nor  Eunice  don't 
know  a  touch  about  it,  nuther  one.  Now,  tell." 
The  slice  of  bread  fell  from  the  two-pronged 
fork  into  the  fire,  but  neither  of  this  worthy  pair 
observed  the  fact.  For  at  once  the  deacon 
plunged  into  his  story,  relating  the  varied  rumors 
which  were  at  that  moment  being  excitedly  dis- 
cussed by  every  other  fireside  in  Marsden,  as  by 
this;  and  the  grain  of  truth  extracted  from  the 
mass  was  that  —  something  out  of  the  common 


158     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

had  happened,  yet  nobody  knew  jnst  what;  that 
Katharine  and  Montgomery  were  the  chief  actors 
in  the  drama,  with  Moses  a  possible  accessory. 
Also,  that  to  Miss  Maitland  the  whole  affair  was 
known  "  root  and  branch,"  and  that  she  had  been 
true  to  her  character  and  refused  to  share  her 
affairs  with  even  the  friendliest  of  neighbors. 

"  And  now,  Susanna  Sprigg,  what  do  you  say  to 
that  ? "  demanded  the  deacon,  exultantly,  when 
he  had  finished  his  garbled  narrative. 

"  I  say  —  hosh  !  And  you've  burned  the  toast. 
But  I've  got  enough  done,  anyway.  We  always 
'  feed '  at  five  o'clock  in  tte  mornin'  an'  milk 
right  after.  And  you  needn't  bother  to  lock  the 
buildin's  another  night.  Course,  we  do  have 
keys  an'  keep  'em  hung  in  their  places,  but  as 
for  usin'  'em  —  Why,  who  in  Marsden  would 
steal  a  cent's  worth  ?  " 

The  deacon  felt  he  had  been  bidden  to  take 
himself  away,  yet  with  nothing  learned;  and  as 
he  slowly  adjusted  his  plush  cap  and  pulled  its 
ear-tabs  down,  he  fixed  a  facetious  glance  upon  the 
housekeeper,  making  one  more  effort  toward  en- 
lightenment, saying: 

"  I  admit  Marsden  an  honest  village,  less  I 
never'd  a-sold  the  farm  an'  moved  in.  But  what's 
been  in  the  past  ain't  no  pattern  for  the  futur'. 
Course,  you  hain't  had  no  occasion  for  bars  an' 
bolts,  heretofore,  but  hereafter  —  hereafter  — 
with  that  bag  or  box  or  trunk  of  diamonds  —  a 


THE   FACE   IN   THE   DAEKNESS     159 

gold  box  it  is,  too,  they  say  —  or  them  big 
lumps  of  gold  out  the  mine  —  prudence  is  ad- 
visable.    Good  night." 

He  went  out,  rather  noisily  closing  the  door 
behind  him;  and,  fairly  snatching  up  the  plate 
of  toast,  Susanna  repaired  to  the  room  where, 
in  an  unlighted  gloom,  Eunice  awaited  her 
supper. 

"  My  suz !  Eunice,  why  didn't  you  light  up 
'fore  this?  I  meant  to  do  it  myself,  but  what 
with  runnin'  up-stairs  to  tend  to  Moses  an'  showin' 
that  blunderheaded  deacon  the  ways  of  doin'  our 
chores,  I  let  it  go." 

Eunice  rose  to  do  as  suggested.  Indeed,  she 
had  been  sitting  so  absorbed  in  her  own  thoughts 
that  she  had  not  observed  the  coming  of  nightfall ; 
but  Susanna  interposed: 

"  You  set  still,  Eunice  Maitland,  till  I  get  all 
the  lamps  lit  there  is.  I've  got  to  have  a  chance 
to  see  whether  I'm  awake  or  drearain'.  I  want 
to  see  square  into  your  own  face,  an'  learn  if 
you're  bein'  deceived  or  are  deceivin'  me.  Here's 
that  little  mis'able  Jimmy  Pettijohn  —  " 

"Little,    Susanna?" 

"  Yes,  little.  Always  was  an'  always  will  be. 
His  outside  has  growed  big  enough  in  all  con- 
science, but  his  inside  has  stayed  the  size  of  a  pin- 
point, same  as  it  was  born.  And  Deacon  Meakin, 
that's  always  had  the  reputation  of  common  sense, 
a-insistin'  that  a  gold  mow  has  been  found  in  our 


160  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

woods ;  or  if  not  that,  then  a  box  —  a  shiny  box 
of  —  Mj  suz !  Eunice  —  Eunice  —  what  is 
the  matter  ?  " 

Miss  Maitland  had  risen  and  stood  staring  in- 
credulously at  the  housekeeper.  She  was  trem- 
bling violently  and  her  face  had  turned  paler  than 
the  other  had  ever  seen  it.  She  opened  her  lips  to 
speak,  but  words  seemed  slow  in  coming,  and 
after  a  moment  she  sank  back  in  her  chair,  mur- 
muring only: 

"  Oh,  Susanna !     How  dreadful !  " 

"  Eunice,  be  you  sick  ?  " 

"  No.     Oh,  no,  no." 

"  Then  there's  somethin'  in  this,  after  all.  An' 
—  an'  —  you  never  told  me !  "  cried  the  widow, 
for  the  first  time  in  her  life  feeling  really  angry 
with  this  good  friend. 

"  I  couldn't  tell  you,  dear  Susanna.  I  could 
tell  nobody.  It  does  not  concern  —  any  one  now 
living." 

Her  hesitation  was  not  lost  upon  the  eager 
woman  opposite,  whose  curiosity  was  greater  even 
than  her  anger;    making  her  demand,  promptly: 

"  Which  was  it  ?     Box  or  mow  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell  you.  I  shall  not  say  another 
word  upon  the  subject.  Where  are  the  children  ?  " 
But  though  the  tone  was  decisive,  it  was  also  very 
gentle;  and  now  smiling  across  to  her  irate 
housemate,  she  added :  "  Be  faithful  to  me  in  this 
matter,  dear  friend,  as  you  have  always  been  in 


THE   FACE   IN   THE   DAEKNESS     161 

others.  The  secret  is  not  mine  to  impart.  You 
will  help  me  to  silence  all  these  dreadful  rumors 
by  simply  ignoring  them.  Nothing  has  happened, 
save  Moses'  trouble,  to  aifect  our  life  in  any  way. 
I  am  astonished  that  people  should  make  so  much 
of  so  little,  and  I  am  both  surprised  and  dis- 
appointed that  any  rumors  have  been  set  afloat. 
It  seems  impossible  to  trust  anybody,  nowadays, 
even  a  child !  But  where  are  the  two  who  belong 
to  us  ?  Where  is  Katharine  ?  Where  is  Mont- 
gomery ?  He  should  be  going  home,  or  his  grand- 
mother will  worry.  But  be  sure  to  put  him  up  a 
basket  of  food.  There's  that  half  of  a  boiled  ham, 
and  yesterday's  bread  was  extra  fine.  A  loaf  of 
that  and  a  square  of  gingerbread  should  satisfy 
him  for  the  bread-and-milk  dinner  he  was  forced 
to  put  up  with.  He  was  very  helpful  in  running 
errands,  I  must  not  forget  that." 

Miss  Eunice  continued  talking  as  if  she  wished 
to  recall  to  herself  all  the  good  qualities  of  one 
who  had  bitterly  disappointed  her.  How  could 
a  Sturtevant  be  so  dishonorable?  Or  was  it  a 
Maitland?  Which  of  the  two  young  things  who 
had  found  the  box  and  had  given  her  their  prom- 
ise, had  so  soon  broken  their  word  ?  For,  of  course, 
only  by  and  through  them  could  these  wild  rumors 
have  been  set  astir. 

Susanna  had  listened  in  silence,  which  was  not 
her  habit.  She  was  still  disappointed  and  hurt, 
and  was  trying  in  her  own  mind  to  put  several 


162  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

things  together.  But  she  rallied  as  Eunice 
paused,  and  said: 

"  I  don't  know  where  they  are,  ary  one.  The 
Squire  he  was  after  Monty,  hot  foot.  'Twas  him, 
he  said,  'at  had  set  the  yarn  a-goin'.  After  all, 
it  might  be  one  his  own  wild  goose  make-believes, 
if  —  if  you  hadn't  owned  it  was  true.  Of  course, 
I'll  do  what  you  want.  I  always  have,  or  tried 
to;  but  I  will  say  this  much,  Eunice  Maitland, 
'at  I  don't  feel  you've  the  confidence  in  me  you 
ought  to  have.  That's  all.  I'll  say  no  more.  And 
as  for  where  them  two  oneasy  young  ones  are,  I 
can't  guess.  I  heard  'em  talkin'  or  I  heard 
Monty,  up  in  the  hay-mow,  just  after  the  Squire 
wanted  him.  I  heard  him  as  I  was  crossing  the 
gravel  road  to  the  barn,  yet  when  we  got  there 
an'  called  to  him  —  he  simply  wasn't.  He 
knowed  he'd  been  doin'  wrong,  most  like,  else 
he'd  have  come  down," 

"  Did  you  tell  him  that  it  was  Squire  Petti- 
john  who  wished  to  see  him  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Course.  I  thought  that  would  scare 
him  into  comin'  right  away." 

Miss  Maitland  laughed,  and  answered :  "  My 
dear,  misguided  woman !  You  might  have  known 
Monty  well  enough  to  understand  how  fast  he 
would  disappear  in  some  other  direction.  He 
has  probably  gone  home  and  Katharine  with  him. 
I  hate  to  put  any  further  task  upon  you,  but  I 
—  I'm  rather  upset  by  to-day's  events  and  shall 


THE   FACE    IN   THE   DARKNESS     163 

have  to  ask  you  to  go  for  Kate.  I  must  tell  her 
to  remember  hours  and  always  be  on  hand  at  meal- 
time. She  is  a  winning  child  in  many  ways,  but 
—  I  fear  I'm  too  old  to  get  used  again  to  any 
child." 

Susanna  went  out  without  a  further  word.  In 
her  heart  she  was  glad  of  the  rather  long  walk 
to  Madam  Sturtevant's,  since  during  it  she 
would  have  opportunity  to  stop  at  some  neighbors' 
doors,  hear  what  they  had  to  say,  and  promptly 
disabuse  their  minds  of  whatever  wild  notions  they 
had  that  day  acquired.  For  despite  her  personal 
vexation  with  Eunice  she  was  loyal  to  her,  and 
felt  that  she  had  but  to  say  "  Bosh !  "  in  her  most 
emphatic  way  to  any  rumor  repeated  in  order  to 
dispose  of  it.  Mistaken  woman!  As  well  try 
to  stem  the  ocean's  flood  as  to  silence  a  secret 
once  betrayed ! 

These  several  calls,  brief  though  they  were, 
brought  her  somewhat  late  to  Madam  Sturtevant's, 
and  at  that  very  moment  when  Alfaretta  rushed 
into  the  dining-room,  frightened  and  breathless. 
Now  the  Widow  Sprigg  so  rarely  paid  a  visit  to 
the  Mansion  that  she  meant  to  make  this  one  as 
formal  as  possible;  so,  instead  of  tapping  at  the 
side  door,  she  stepped  to  the  front  one  and  gave 
a  resounding  whack  upon  the  big  brass  knocker. 

"  Ouch !  "  screamed  Alfaretta. 

"  Why  —  what's  that !  "  exclaimed  the  Madam. 
After-dark  callers  were  an  unknown  thing  at  that 


164  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

house,  and  instant  premonition  of  evil  chilled 
its  mistress's  heart. 

"  D-don't  be  s-s-scared !  "  said  the  little  maid, 
hurrying  to  the  lady's  side  and  clinging  to  her 
skirt,  stammering  as  readily  as  Montgomery 
would  have  done  and  ostensibly  to  reassure  her 
mistress,  but,  in  reality,  for  her  own  protection. 
Madam  could  be  so  stately  and  grand  that  she 
must  awe  any  intruder  who  looked  upon  her,  and 
behind  her  black  skirt  the  girl  felt  safer. 

"  Scared,  Alf  aretta  ?  How  absurd !  But  com- 
ing so  suddenly  upon  our  quietude  the  summons 
surprised  me.  Take  the  candle  from  the  side 
table  and  open  the  door." 

The  Mansion  was  still  lighted  by  candles  which 
its  mistress  herself  prepared,  molding  them  in 
tin  molds  exactly  as  had  been  done  by  the 
first  lady  who  had  ever  ruled  there,  but  for 
economy's  sake  as  few  were  burned  as  possible. 
One  now  glimmered  upon  the  supper-table  and 
another,  unlighted,  waited  elsewhere  for  just  such 
an  emergency  —  but  an  emergency  so  long  de- 
layed that  Alfy  had  never  expected  it  to  arrive. 

She  had  learned  to  polish  the  antique  stick 
to  a  dazzling  brilliancy,  its  snuffers  and  extin- 
guisher as  well,  "  in  case  we  should  have  an 
evening  call,"  being  the  weekly  remark  that  ac- 
companied the  polishing.  But  till  now  the  wick 
of  the  candle  thus  prepared  had  remained  white 
as  when  removed  from  the  mold,  and  Alfaretta's 


THE   FACE   IN   THE  DAEKNESS     165 


hand  trembled   as  she  now  left  her  ambush  of 
black  serge  and  tried  to  obey. 

"  Take  care,  child !  You're  lighting  the  candle 
—  not  the  wick!  Take  another  lighter  and  try 
again." 

Even  matches  were  a  luxury  to  be  reckoned 
with  in  that  impoverished  home ;  and  besides,  all 
the  family  had  always  used  paper  "  lighters " 
daintily  twisted,  and  crimped  at  top,  nor  was 
Elinor  Sturtevant  one  to  go  behind  her  own 
traditions.  But,  at  that  moment,  Alfaretta  had 
already  wasted  three  lighters  without  igniting 
the  new  wick  when  again  that  loud  knocking 
was  repeated. 

Madam's  patience  fled, 

"  You  clumsy  child !  Don't  delay  any  longer. 
Whoever  it  is  will  think  us  most  inhospitable. 
Take  this  one  already  burning  and  go  to  the  door 
at  once." 

"I  —  I  dassent !  "  quavered  Alfaretta,  re- 
treating toward  the  kitchen. 

"  You  —  dare  —  not  ?  How  ridiculous.  Then 
I  will  go  myself!  though  when  one  has  a  maid 
one  expects  her  to  attend  the  door.  That's  a 
point  upon  which  I  am  very  particular.  Remem- 
ber that,  in  future." 

"  Yes'm,"  murmured  the  girl,  absently.  There 
were  so  many  "  points "  upon  which  the  old 
gentlewoman  insisted  that  some  of  them  fell  on 
unheeding  ears.     At  present,  she  was  conscious 


166  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

only  of  two  things :  she  must  either  remain  alone 
behind  in  a  dark  room  or  she  must  go  with  her 
mistress  and  face  whatever  lay  beyond  that  great 
front  door.  Deciding  the  latter  course  to  be  pref- 
erable, she  timidly  followed  the  vanishing  candle 
down  the  long  hall  to  where  a  barricade  of  bars 
and  chains  and  bolts  made  admission  from  without 
a  matter  of  some  moments. 

"  Hold  the  candle,  Alfaretta,  while  I  unfasten 
the  door,"  commanded  the  Madam,  and  the  girl 
had  to  obey.  But  her  hand  shook  so  that  she 
scattered  "  droppings,"  which  even  at  that  mo- 
ment did  not  escape  the  mistress's  critical  eye 
and  which  would  have  to  be  cleaned  up  as  soon 
as  morning  came. 

At  last  the  door  was  opened,  and  to  Madam 
Sturtevant  nobody  was  visible  save  Susanna 
Sprigg,  wearing  her  Sunday  bonnet  and  her  most 
polite  manner,  while  her  spectacles  gleamed  like 
balls  of  fire  as  the  candle-light  fell  upon  them. 
But  what  Alfaretta  saw  was  another  face,  so  wild 
and  fierce  and  terrible  to  look  upon  that  her 
heart  almost  ceased  beating.  A  white  and  haggard 
face,  that  seemed  imprinted  upon  the  darkness 
as  if  it  belonged  to  no  body  nor  substance  but 
was  a  ghostly  apparition  of  the  night.  All  the 
eerie  stories  the  poor  child  had  heard  during  her 
life  at  the  "  County  Farm,"  from  the  lips  of  the 
garrulous  pensioners  who  had  nothing  better  to  do 
than  invent  them,  came  back  to  her  now;    and  as 


THE   FACE   IN   THE   DARKNESS     167 

the  face  appeared  to  be  coming  nearer,  growing 
more  and  more  distinct,  she  uttered  a  piercing 
shriek  and  slammed  the  door  with  such  violence 
that  the  candle  went  out  and  the  darkness  she 
dreaded  enveloped  them  all. 


CHAPTEK   XII. 

A    STUETEVANT PERFORCE 

"  Alfaretta  !  "  cried  Madam  Stnrtevant, 
"  what  does  this  mean  ?  "  Something  of  the  girl's 
panic  had  seized  her,  also,  though  she  tried  to 
hide  her  own  agitation  by  sternness. 

"  My  suz,  Alfy  Brown !  What  ails  ye  ?  You 
nigh  knocked  me  down,  slammin'  the  door  right 
in  my  face,  that  way !  "  exclaimed  Susanna,  who 
had,  fortunately,  stepped  within  before  this 
strange  thing  had  happened.  She  was  herself 
in  an  excited  mood,  having  passed  through  what 
she  had  during  the  past  day,  and  having  had  her 
mind  further  disturbed  by  the  tales  she  had 
gathered  during  her  progress.  Now  here  at  the 
Mansion,  where  was  always  dignified  composure 
and  serene  hospitality,  to  find  such  tardy  admis- 
sion and  such  hysterical  welcome  —  it  was  too 
much !  Her  reflections  were  swift  and  angry, 
and  while  all  still  stood  in  the  dark,  as  yet  too 
surprised  to  move,  she  demanded,  crisply :  "  I 
want  Katharine." 

168 


A   STURTEVANT  — PEEFORCE        1&9 

"  Come  this  way,  Mrs.  Sprigg.  Let  me  take 
your  hand  and  lead  you.  I'll  soon  get  a  light,  and 
please  excuse  Alfaretta.  I  don't  understand  what 
has  happened  to  her.  Don't  cling  to  me  like 
that,  child.     You  hinder  me." 

"  Oh,  didn't  you  see  —  It  ?  "  whispered  the 
unhappy  little  maid,  paying  no  heed  to  her  mis- 
tress's words,  but  clinging  all  the  closer  to  her  in 
a  fresh  access  of  terror  as  she  heard,  or  fancied 
that  she  did,  footsteps  on  the  piazza  without. 

Susanna's  anger  cooled  in  a  new  curiosity,  and 
she  said: 

"  You  needn't  bother  to  lead  me,  Madam  Stur- 
tevant,  I  know  the  ins  an'  outs  of  this  old  house 
pretty  well,  even  if  I  don't  come  to  it  often.  You 
go  right  on  ahead  an'  strike  a  match ;  an'  Alfy 
Brown,  let  go  her  skirt.  Your  manners  this  night 
ain't  none  your  mistress's  teachin',  I  know  that. 
They  must  be  some  left  over  from  the  '  Farm.'  " 

Now  Susanna  must  have  been  sorely  tried  to 
have  reminded  the  girl  of  her  unfortunate  start 
in  life,  and  Madam  hastened  to  cover  the  remark 
by  saying:  "There,  that's  better!"  and  rising 
from  the  open  fireplace  where  she  had  relighted 
the  candle  from  the  carefully  covered  embers. 
It  had  been  so  mild  until  now  that  only  a  frag- 
ment of  fire  had  been  kept  upon  the  hearth,  where, 
however,  it  was  never  permitted  to  wholly  die 
"  from  equinox  to  equinox."  Fortunately  for 
the  comfort  of  the  household,  there  was  woodland 


170     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

sufficient  still  belonging  to  the  estate  to  supply 
all  necessary  fuel,  and  in  cold  weather  this  im- 
poverished gentlewoman  enjoyed  her  blazing  wood 
fires  —  a  luxury  which  even  wealthy  people  can- 
not always  command.  Miss  Maitland  made  it 
Moses'  business  to  see  that  the  Mansion  wood- 
piles were  high  and  broad,  long  before  the 
autumn  came,  and  the  hardship  of  splitting 
smaller  sticks  for  kitchen  and  kindling  fell  upon 
the  reluctant  Montgomery. 

Susanna  watched  the  candle-lighting  with  real 
admiration.  Neat  as  she  was  herself,  she  had 
never  yet  attained  to  that  exquisite  daintiness 
with  which  Madam  Sturtevant  did  all  things ; 
and  she  now  exclaimed,  with  keen  appreciation: 

"  My  suz  !  You  do  beat  all !  Why,  most  any- 
body tryin'  to  light  a  taller  candle  by  wood  coals 
would  ha'  melted  the  candle  —  but  you  hain't 
dripped  a  drip.  Where's  the  children  ?  I've 
come  for  Katy.  She's  a  terr'ble  hand  for  runnin' 
away,  or,  ruther,  for  not  bein'  where  she  should  be 
when  wanted.  The  wind  has  riz  awful.  It  don't 
rain  none  yet,  but's  goin'  to  right  off.  I  didn't 
think  to  fetch  an  umberell  an'  couldn't  have  used 
it  if  I  had.  Not  again'  this  blow,  Alfy,  you  call 
Katharine,  and  we'll  start  back  prompt.  No, 
thank  ye.  Madam,  I  won't  stop  to  set  down,  not 
this  time.  Eunice,  she's  alone  with  Moses  so 
helpless,  an'  I  don't  believe  half  the  shutters  is 
tight  nor  nothin'.     Seems  if  a  body  had  more 


A   STUETEVANT  — PEEFOECE        171 

on  their  hands  than  they  could  'tend  to  times  like 
these.  Why  don't  you  move,  Alfy?  An'  not 
stand  stock  starin'  still,  like  an  idjut?  If  the 
wind  sounds  that  way  indoors,  what  you  s'pose 
it  is  outside?  An'  that  child  hain't  got  a  thing 
on  but  that  white  ducky  dress  and  maybe  a  hat. 
She  wasn't  fixed  proper  for  livin'  in  the  country, 
though  she  does  become  her  clothes  real  likely. 
She's  clear  Maitland,  Katy  is,  an'  as  like  Johnny 
was  as  two  peas  in  a  pod.  I  can't  help  lovin' 
her,  try  as  I  will,"  concluded  the  widow,  so 
exhausted  by  her  own  volubility  that  she  uncon- 
sciously sat  down  to  rest  herself,  even  though  she 
had  earlier  declined  her  hostess's  offer  of  the 
spring-rocker  by  the  sewing-table.  "  A  chair  'at 
looks  comif'table  enough  to  take  a  nap  in  its  own 
self,"  as  she  had  once  observed  concerning  it. 

Thus  enabled  to  edge  in  a  remark  of  her  own, 
Madam  replied,  with  some  anxiety  in  her  tones: 

"  The  little  Katharine  has  not  been  here.  Not 
that  I  know.    Has  she,  Alfaretta  ?  " 

"I  —  I  hain't  seen  her,"  faltered  the  maid, 
shivering  as  a  fresh  gust  of  wind  rattled  the 
casement  and  a  flash  of  lightning  made  every- 
thing visible  without.  But  she  had  closed  her 
eyes  against  whatever  might  be  revealed  and  still 
delayed    her   mistress's    direction: 

"  Go  and  look  for  Montgomery  and  see  if  he 
knows  anything  about  Katharine;"  then,  turning 
to  Susanna,  she  added :   "  I  am  so  glad  that  they 


172     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

are  going  to  be  such  friends.  It's  a  good  thing 
for  a  growing  boy  to  be  associated  with  a  young 
lady  of  his  own  —  his  own  position  in  life." 

Susanna  sniffed.  She  was  democratic  by  pro- 
fession and  did  not  feel  called  upon  to  explain 
that  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  was  nobody  living 
so  appreciative  as  herself  of  "  good  family  "  —  as 
represented  in  Marsden  by  the  Sturtevants  and 
Maitlands.  She  merely  ignored  the  remark, 
starting  from  her  seat  as  a  terrible  blast  set  the 
old  Mansion  trembling  on  its  stout  beams  and  an 
east  side  shutter  blew  from  its  hinges. 

"  My  suz !  We've  never  had  such  a  storm  sence 
I  can  remember,  an'  Katy  in  nothin'  but  ducks! 
Eunice  has  wrote  right  away,  soon's  she  made 
up  her  mind  to  keep  her,  to  that  stepmother  o' 
hers  to  take  an'  buy  the  child  some  good  strong 
shoes  an'  dark  warm  dresses,  fit  for  a  girl  to 
wear  in  a  country  village.  She's  goin'  to  begin 
school,  soon's  town  meetin's  over  an'  Moses'll 
have  time  to  drive  her  there.  Oh,  I  forget  he's 
broke.  Well,  she'll  go  sometime,  if  the  proper 
clothes  come  an'  things  turn  out  accordin'.  But 
come  she  must  now,  an'  to  oncet,  if  she's  any- 
where's  hereabout,  'cause  I  dassent  stay  a  minute 
more.  I  shall  be  blowed  off  my  feet,  I  'low,  an' 
I  wish,  I  do  wish,  I  hadn't  wore  my  best  bunnit." 

"  Take  it  off  and  leave  it  here,  Susanna.  I 
will  lend  you  a  scarf  to  tie  over  your  hair,  and 
Montgomery  shall  carry  it  home  to  you  in  the 


A   STURTEVANT  —  PERFORCE        173 

morning.  I  will  go  myself  and  see  if  the  children 
are  on  the  place.  Though  I  doubt  it,  if  Alfaretta 
hasn't  seen  them,  or  if  they  haven't  come  in  here 
to  be  with  ns  during  the  storm.  Maybe  it  will 
soon  pass.     Wouldn't  you  better  wait  and  see  ? " 

"  Not  a  minute  longer  'an  to  look,"  answered 
the  widow,  really  more  alarmed  for  the  comfort 
of  her  home  folks  than  for  herself.  Laying  her 
bonnet  carefully  upon  the  side  table,  she  fol- 
lowed Madam  into  the  kitchen,  yet  would  not 
permit  thaft  lady  to  explore  the  barn  as  she  set 
out  to  do. 

"  Come  along  with  me,  Alfy,  but  get  a  lantern. 
I  hear  the  barn  door  swingin'  an'  old  Whitey 
mooin'  as  if  even  she  was  scared.  You  or  Monty 
must  ha'  been  careless  about  shuttin'  up  to-night, 
which  uther  one  of  you  done  it,  or  didn't  do  it." 

A  lantern  was  procured  and  lighted,  but  there 
Alfaretta's  assistance  ended.  Nothing  would 
have  induced  her  to  visit  that  barn  again  that 
night,  no  matter  how  well  protected  by  such  a 
valiant  woman  as  the  Widow  Sprigg.  As  the  latter 
disappeared  toward  the  outbuildings,  carefully 
shielding  the  lantern  with  her  shawl,  Alfaretta's 
conscience  drove  her  to  say : 

"  It  ain't  no  use.  She  won't  find  him.  lie  — 
he  ain't  there." 

"Isn't  there?  Then  why,  child,  did  you  do 
such  a  rude  thing  as  to  let  her  go  on  a  useless 
errand?      I    really    don't    understand    what    has 


174     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

come  over  you  to-night.  You  are  trying  my 
patience  severely." 

"  Yes'm,"  admitted  the  bond-maid,  meekly. 

Madam  laid  her  hand  upon  the  girl's  shoulder 
and  turned  her  face  toward  the  light  of  the  candle 
which  she  was  herself  holding  behind  the  uncur- 
tained kitchen  window,  the  better  to  guide 
Susanna  on  her  way. 

"  Tell  me,  child,  what  has  frightened  you  so  ? 
Do  you  know  where  my  dear  grandson  is  ?  It 
terrifies  me  to  think  he  may  be  som(7where  out- 
of-doors,  unprotected  in  this  tempest.  Did  he 
go  fishing?  Nutting?  To  play  ball?  Do  you 
know  where  he  is  ?  " 

"  Yes'm,"  again  answered  the  little  maid,  but 
to  which  of  these  several  inquiries  was  not  dis- 
closed. At  that  moment  a  blinding  flash  of 
lightning  illumined  the  whole  space  between 
house  and  barn,  showing  Susanna  wildly  flinging 
her  arms  aloft,  her  lantern  flying  in  one  direction, 
herself  in  another,  while  distinctly  silhouetted 
against  the  glare  was  another  figure,  so  strange 
and  uncouth  that  even  Madam  retreated  a  pace  in 
sudden  alarm. 

They  could  hear  Susanna  still  screaming  as  she 
fled,  but  a  second  flash  showed  the  man  who  had 
alarmed  her  standing  motionless  on  the  spot 
where  they  had  discovered  him. 

Whoever  or  whatever  he  might  be,  it  wasn't  a 
pleasant  situation  for  these  two,  so  isolated  from 


A   STUETEVANT  — PERFORCE       175 

their  neighbors,  and  without  even  Montgomery's 
presence.  Mere  lad  as  he  was,  he  was  still  some- 
thing masculine,  and  at  least  his  grandmother 
believed  him  to  be  a  very  hero  for  courage.  But 
he  was  not  there  to  "  protect  "  them  from  the 
possible  annoyance  of  this  unknown  creature,  and 
now,  gently  leading  the  frightened  maid,  Madam 
went  back  to  her  untasted  supper  and  sat  down  in 
her  place.  She  also  motioned  the  girl  to  take  a 
chair  close  beside  her  own,  and  when  she  had 
done  this,  again  asked: 

"  What  frightened  you  so,  just  as  Widow 
Sprigg  arrived?  Did  you  see  this  man  —  out- 
side —  then  ? " 

"I  —  I  didn't  see  a  man.  I  saw  a  face !  I'd 
finished  milkin'  Whitey  and  a'ready  'twas  gettin' 
dark  awful  fast  an'  early.  I  felt  the  wind  blowin' 
and  I  knew  the  back  shutters  was  loose.  So  I 
scuttled  'crost  to  pull  'em  to,  lest  they  got  blowed 
clean  away,  an'  there  —  there  —  right  in  the 
square  of  window  by  the  old  box-stalls  was  —  was 
—  the  face!  I  got  one  look,  'cause  first  off  I 
couldn't  somehow  move  hand  or  foot,  an'  I  saw 
how  white  it  was,  how  its  eyes  blazed,  how  wild 
and  stand-uppish  its  hair  was,  an'  it  smiled  — 
Oh,  what  a  dreadful  smile!  An'  then  I  knew 
'twas  a  ghost !  It's  just  the  night  for  'em,  such  as 
I  used  to  hear  the  old  folks  talk  about  out  to  the 
*Farm.'     An'  which  of  us  do  you  suppose,  oh, 


176     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

which  has  got  to  die  ?     'Cause   it's   a   '  call,'   a 
*  warnin','  to  somebody." 

The  little  maid's  terror  was  so  real  and  her 
mental  suffering  so  intense  that  the  Madam 
pitied  her  profoundly,  though  she  smiled  as  she 
answered : 

"  I  wish  it  may  prove  nothing  more  trouble- 
some than  a  '  ghost,'  a  creature  of  one's  imagina- 
tion. Ah,  my  child !  When  you  reach  my  age 
you  will  know  that  the  only  '  ghosts '  who  can 
really  trouble  us  are  our  unhappy  memories.  I 
suspect  that  it  is  one  of  those  '  tramps,'  for  which 
Susanna  is  always  looking,  but  who  have  thus  far 
avoided  peaceful  Marsden.  Unlucky  woman ! 
whose  first  meeting  with  her  expected  '  tramp ' 
should  be  on  such  a  night  and  alone.  Wind  or  no 
wind,  she'll  make  a  short  journey  of  the  long 
road  home." 

Already,  safe  once  more  in  the  sheltered  dining- 
room  which  was  on  the  side  of  the  house  least 
exposed  to  the  storm  and  that  did  not  face  the 
outbuildings,  the  housemistress's  confidence  re- 
turned. If  only  Montgomery  were  with  her,  so, 
that  she  knew  him  also  safe,  she  would  have  been 
content.  As  it  was,  even,  she  began  to  think 
kindly  and  pityingly  of  whatever  poor  wretch 
had  sought  shelter  at  her  door.  If  he  didn't 
smoke,  and  so  endanger  the  buildings,  she  wished 
he  would  seek  cover  with  old  Whitey  till  the  storm 
was  past. 


A   STURTEVANT  — PEEFOECE        177 

Meanwhile,  one  crouching  in  the  hay-strewn 
bay,  hugging  a  squirming  dog  for  company,  and 
one  lying  upon  a  narrow  stretcher  beneath  the 
eaves,  —  the  missing  Katharine  and  Montgomery 
listened  to  the  roar  of  the  tempest  and  believed 
that  the  very  day  of  doom  had  arrived.  Neither 
had  ever  heard  anything  like  that  wind.  Indeed, 
none  in  Marsden  ever  had,  and  the  morning  was  to 
reveal  many  ruined  buildings  and  uprooted  trees. 
But  thus  far  the  darkness  hid  all  this,  and  Widow 
Sprigg  raced  homeward  unharmed  save  by  the 
rain,  which  now  began  to  fall  in  torrents. 

Miss  Maitland  was  watching  her  arrival  in 
great  anxiety.  She  had  early  secured  every  door 
and  shutter,  save  at  this  one  window  which  com- 
manded the  path  from  the  gate.  Here  she  had 
placed  a  brightly  burning  lamp  to  act  as  beacon 
to  the  wanderers,  and  she  had  also  set  the  fire 
to  blazing  brightly.  Before  the  fire  hung  warm 
clothing  for  the  pair,  and,  having  done  all  that  she 
could  think  of  for  their  comfort,  she  had  passed 
to  and  fro  between  the  sitting-room  and  Moses' 
chamber.  He  was  almost  as  uneasy  as  the  storm 
itself ;  alternately  berating  himself  for  a  "  fool," 
and  speculating  upon  the  deacon's  management 
of  affairs  at  the  barn. 

"  I'll  bet  —  I'll  bet  a  continental  he  never  cut 
the  fodder  for  the  cattle  but  just  give  it  to  'em 
hull!  He  was  no  'count  of  a  farmer,  the  deacon 
wasn't     Good  man,  yes.     I  ain't  sayin'  he  ain't 


178     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

that ;  but  did  it  ever  strike  you,  Eunice,  that  most 
good  folks  is  pesky  stupid  ?  Or  *  clever '  ones, 
uther  ?  I  call  it  plumb  equal  to  tellin'  you  you're 
a  reg'lar  tomnoddy  to  say  a  fellar's  uther  '  clever  ' 
or  '  good.'  I  'low  little  stutterin'  Monty  Sturtevant 
could  ha'  done  the  chores  well  enough  till  I  get 
'round  again,  an'  I  could  ha'  bossed  him."  Then, 
after  a  moment :     "  But  I  can't  boss  the  deacon." 

"  No,  you  poor  old  grumbler !  I  reckon  he 
isn't  that  kind.  And  your  judgment  of  your 
neighbors  is  a  bit  extreme.  Never  mind.  It's 
such  a  good  sign  to  hear  you  scold  that  I'm 
encouraged  to  think  you'll  soon  be  well  again. 
Now  I'll  go  down  and  be  ready  to  open  the  door 
for  Susanna  and  Katharine.  It's  terrible  to 
have  them  exposed  to  this  storm." 

But  there  was  nobody  visible,  and  at  length  Miss 
Eunice  felt  assured  that  she  should  not  see  them 
till  the  tempest  lulled.  So  she  returned  once 
more  to  the  kitchen-chamber,  to  comfort  its  occu- 
pant and  herself  as  well.  She  had  just  remarked, 
for  the  third  time : 

"  No !  I'm  sure  Elinor  would  never  let  them 
set  out  in  such  weather  as  this.  She  has  kept 
them  to  supper,  and  I  do  hope  Susanna  will  have 
forethought  enough  to  decline  the  ham  and  bread 
she  carried  for  Monty,  and  confine  herself  to 
whatever  the  family  was  to  have  had  by  itself. 
Susanna  is  very  hearty,  I'm  glad  to  say  — " 

"  Eats  so  much  it  makes  her  thin  to  carry  it 


A   STUETEVANT  —  PERFORCE        179 

around !  "  growled  Moses,  interrupting.  "  As 
for  Montgomery,  that  little  shaver's  never 
had  —  " 

What  he  would  have  added  is  not  known. 

Out  upon  the  kitchen  stairs  sounded  the  rush 
of  sodden  feet,  which  seemed  to  stumble  from 
sheer  weariness  even  in  their  maddened  haste; 
and  the  next  instant  there  burst  into  the  room 
what  looked  like  a  wretched  caricature  of  poor 
Susanna.  Bonnetless  and  spectacle-less,  her  gray 
hair  streaming  in  snake-like  strands,  her  gar- 
ments dripping  pools,  her  fine  black  Sunday  shawl 
trailing  behind  her  like  a  splash  of  flowing  ink, 
she  dropped  upon  the  floor  gasping  and  sobbing, 
and,  apparently,  at  her  wits'  end. 

A  second's  hesitation  at  touching  so  draggled 
and  dripping  a  creature  held  Eunice  aloof;  and 
then  she  was  down  beside  her  friend,  wiping  the 
rain-wet  face  and  begging  to  be  told  what  had 
befallen. 

"  Surely,  something  worse  than  a  storm  has 
brought  you  to  this  pass,  my  poor  dear.  You 
look  frightened  —  you  tremble  —  You  —  Oh, 
Susanna !  Where  is  Katharine  ?  Has  harm 
happened  her  ?  " 

"Her?  'Tain't  her!  It's  me.  It's  come  at 
last,  an'  I  always  —  knew  —  it  would.  Oh,  say ! 
Am  I  alive  or  —  or  —  dead  ?  " 

Then  as  the  absurdity  of  her  own  question 
flashed  upon  her,  she  began  to  laugh  hysterically, 


180  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

and  soon  to  sob  with  equal  fervor.  She  was  wholly 
overdone  and  unnerved,  and,  realizing  that  noth- 
ing could  be  learned  till  she  was  calmer,  her  mis- 
tress put  no  further  inquiries,  but  led  her  away 
down  the  stairs,  still  dripping  moisture,  —  a  fact 
that  no  stress  of  emotion  could  hide  from  the 
critical  sight  of  two  such  housekeepers. 

"  Them  stairs !  An'  I  washin'  'em  all  up  clean 
just  afore  sundown !  Lucky  I  hadn't  put  down 
the  carpet  yet,  though  I'd  laid  out  —  Oh,  mv 
suz!" 

This  was  the  first  coherent  sentence,  if  such  it 
can  be  called,  which  escaped  the  terrified  woman, 
while  she  was  being  undressed  and  freshly  clothed 
in  the  warm  things  Eunice  had  provided. 

"  Yes,  dear  heart.  But  never  mind  the  stairs. 
Did  you  find  Katharine  ?  " 

"  Nuther  hide  nor  hair  of  her.  Likely  she's 
gone  visitin'  some  the  village  little  girls.  She's 
that  friendly  she's  been  into  most  every  house 
a'ready.  She's  safe  enough.  She  won't  never 
come  to  harm,  Katy  won't.  But,  Eunice,  he's 
come !     I've  seen  him !  " 

"  Who's  come  ?  What  '  him,'  dear  ?  "  asked  the 
other,  gently,  and  thinking  that  exposure  and 
fright  had  made  this  usually  clear-headed  Susanna 
a  little  flighty.  "  Here,  take  a  cup  of  tea.  I  made 
it  fresh  but  a  few  minutes  ago.  It  will  refresh 
you  and  quiet  you  wonderfully." 

Now,  as  a  rule,  the  Widow  Sprigg  needed  no 


A   STURTEV ANT— PERFORCE       181 

urging  to  drink  her  favorite  beverage,  which,  like 
many  another  countrywoman,  —  more's  the  pity ! 
—  she  kept  steeping  on  the  stove  all  day  long. 
But  now,  for  an  instant,  she  looked  doubtfully 
upon  the  cup ;  then,  as  a  sudden  whim  seized  her, 
caught  it  up  eagerly  and  again  ascended  the  stairs 
to  Moses'  bedroom.  He  lay  motionless,  his  leg 
kept  taut  by  a  ball  and  chain  and  his  poor  body 
encased  in  plaster,  but  he  could  use  his  arms  and 
eyes,  the  one  thro-wn  restlessly  here  and  there  and 
the  other  glittering  with  impatient  curiosity. 

"  Well,  there,  Moses  Jones !  How  many  times 
have  you  jeered  an'  gibed  at  me  for  believin'  in 
*  tramps  '  ?  Wasn't  '  none,'  was  there  ?  Well, 
there  is.  I've  seen  him.  He  —  he  chased  me! 
All  the  way  from  the  Mansion  till  I  got  clean  to 
the  post-office  —  an'  then  —  then  —  he  —  he  cut 
for  the  woods !  Oh,  my  suz !  Be  I  dreamin'  or 
awake  ?  " 

The  recalling  of  her  frightful  experience  again 
so  unnerved  her  that  she  sat  down  trembling  on 
the  edge  of  Moses'  cot,  and  would  have  spilled  her 
tea  had  not  Eunice  caught  the  cup  in  time  to 
prevent. 

"  You're  crazy !  "  retorted  Mr.  Jones,  uncon- 
vinced. "  And  there  ain't  no  call,  as  I  can  see, 
for  you  to  set  down  on  my  broke  leg.  That  awful 
ball  the  doctor  tied  to  it'll  keep  it  straight  enough, 
I  'low." 

Susanna  sprang  up  as  if  she  had  been  tossed 


182  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

to  her  feet,  her  face  quickly  becoming  normal  and 
compassionate  again. 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  mean  to  do  that !  I  hope  I  hain't 
hurt  it  none,"  she  apologized,  frankly  distressed. 

"  Well,  seein'  'at  you  didn't  touch  it,  I  'low 
there  ain't  no  great  harm  done.  I  was  only  pro- 
vidin'  against  futur'  trouble.  Now  go  on  with 
your  ^  trampy  '  talk." 

By  this  time  Susanna  was  able  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  the  man  she  had  seen  on  Madam  Sturte- 
vant's  premises,  and  who,  when  she  ran,  had  soon 
followed  in  pursuit.  According  to  her  highly 
embellished  version,  his  attire  had  been  collected 
from  somebody's  rag-bag,  his  hair  and  beard  had 
never  known  shears  or  razor,  his  eyes  were  as  big 
as  saucers  and  gleamed  with  an  unholy  light,  and 
his  color  was  like  chalk.  But  fierce !  There  was 
no  word  could  describe  the  ferocity  of  the  ter- 
rible creature's  pallid  countenance !  and,  as  for 
speed  —  Well,  Susanna  herself  had  made  the  rec- 
ord of  her  life,  yet  he,  with  several  minutes'  disad- 
vantage, had  actually  overtaken  her  and  grabbed 
at  her  shawl.  Witness!  said  shawl  dragging  be- 
hind her  when  she  entered. 

"  Hm-m !  What  puzzles  me  is  that  any  tramp 
—  any  tramp  in  his  senses  —  should  take  after 
an  old  woman  like  you,  Susanna.  An'  how  in 
reason  did  you  get  a  chance  to  investigate  the  cut 
of  his  features  an'  the  state  of  his  wardrobe  in 
the  dark,  as  it  is  ? "  inquired  Moses,  humorously. 


A   STUETEVANT  —  PERFORCE        183 

But  there  was  no  humor  in  Susanna's  grim 
countenance,  as  she  contemptuously  replied: 

"  How  but  by  the  lightnin'  ?  Playin'  all  around 
everything  every  minute,  makin'  more'n  daylight 
to  see  by.  An',  though  I  was  scared  nigh  to  death, 
for  the  soul  of  me,  I  couldn't  help  lookin'  'round 
every  now  an'  again  to  see  what  he  was  like.  I'd 
never  had  a  chance  to  see  a  tramp  afore,  an'  I  never 
expect  to  again,  so  I  had  to  improve  my  oppor- 
tunity, hadn't  I  ?    Scared  or  no  scared." 

This  view  of  the  situation  made  both  her  hear- 
ers laugh ;  but  in  Moses'  mind  was  slowly  grow- 
ing a  desperate  regret,  which  finally  expressed 
itself  in  the  exclamation: 

"  An'  to  think  I  hadn't  even  been  elected  con- 
stable, an'  hadn't  no  chance  to  arrest  the  first 
tramp  an'  vagrant  ever  set  foot  in  this  village  of 
Marsden !  " 

Back  at  the  Mansion  there  was  no  further  dis- 
turbance. Madam  Sturtevant  comforted  herself 
with  the  supposition  that  her  grandson  was  at  the 
home  of  some  boyish  chum  or  other ;  and  she  even 
ate  a  considerable  portion  of  the  now  cold  por- 
ridge, steadfastly  refusing  Alfy's  entreaty  to  take 
some  of  the  good  things  which  Susanna  had 
brought  for  him. 

"  You  may  eat  your  supper  in  here  to-night, 
Alf aretta,  at  the  little  table ;  but  that  basket  was 
for  Montgomery,  and  we  will  leave  it  to  him  to 


184     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

open.  We  shall  get  our  share  of  its  contents, 
never  fear." 

With  more  faith  in  the  lad's  generosity,  where 
appetite  was  concerned,  than  Alfaretta  had,  the 
grandmother  set  the  basket  aside  in  the  closet, 
and  took  up  her  knitting  of  stockings  for  her  boy's 
winter  wear. 

And  then,  as  if  he  had  felt  himself  under  dis- 
cussion, or  more  likely  —  as  Alfy  surmised  —  had 
smelled  the  odor  of  good  things  even  through  many 
partitions,  the  door  softly  opened,  and  there  ap- 
peared a  tumbled  head,  a  frightened  face,  and  a 
pair  of  beseeching  eyes.  Whatever  reproof  was 
in  store  for  him,  he  meant  those  eyes  should  do 
their  part  toward  modifying  it. 

And  for  a  time  all  went  well.  Madam  was  so 
full  of  the  incident  of  the  tramp  and  the  horror 
of  the  storm  that  she  forgot  to  ask  him  where  he 
had  so  long  delayed,  and  how  it  chanced  that  he 
was  so  perfectly  dry.  However,  this  all  came  out 
of  itself.  While  she  was  describing  the  gust  which 
had  blown  the  shutter  free,  he  burst  forth: 

"  I-I-I  heard  that !  Yes,  siree !  An'  I  thought 
the  whole  r-r-r-roof  was  goin'.  An'  then  I  w-w- 
went  to  sleep  a  s-s-s-sp-ell.  When  I  woke  up,  'twas 
so  p-p-pit-chy  dark  I  dassent  stay  no  1-1-longer." 

With  which  he  coolly  sliced  himself  a  portion 
of  the  ham  which  his  grandmother  had  promptly 
produced.     She  watched  him  in  silence  for  a  mo- 


A   STURTEVANT  — PEEFORCE        185 


ment,  then,  as  a  sudden  thought  occurred  to  her, 
demanded : 

"  Montgoittiery,  have  you  been  in  the  secret 
chamber   again  ?     Was    Katharine   with   you  ?  " 

"With  his  mouth  full,  he  stammered :  "  Y-y-yes, 
I've  been.  You  never  said  not.  But  K-K-Kath- 
arine  she  w-w-wasn't  witi  me." 

"  Montgomery,  where  is  she  ?  It  was  for  her 
Susanna  came.  Eunice  does  not  know,  nobody 
has  seen  her,  can  you  tell  where  she  is  ?  You  were 
at  The  Maples  all  day  —  you  played  with  her  — 
where  is  she  ?  " 

Even  in  her  sternest  moods,  "  Grara'ma  "  had 
never  been  like  this.  And  all  at  once  a  horrible 
chill  ran  down  poor  Monty's  back.  Memory  re- 
turned ;  all  his  treachery ;  his  unchivalrous  de- 
sertion of  a  helpless  girl  in  a  dangerous  place; 
and,  to  his  honor  be  it  said,  did  for  a  moment  turn 
him  deadly  sick.  But  his  natural  temperament 
soon  rallied.  Of  course  she  would  have  found  a 
way  to  get  down  and  out.  Yet, —  and  again  he 
felt  faint,  —  what  if  she  had  not  ?  What  if  she 
had  had  to  pass  the  hours  of  this  dreadful  storm 
on  the  top  of  a  hay-mow  under  a  barn  roof,  where, 
even  on  mild  days,  a  strong  breeze  blew  through. 

Madam  leaned  forward,  austere,  intent.  "  My 
son,  tell  me  everything." 

Under  the  spell  of  those  piercing  eyes,  he  did 
tell.  Indeed,  he  was  glad  to  tell.  He  felt  she 
would  find  a  word  of  comfort  for  his  remorseful 


186     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

conscience.  Alas !  the  word  she  did  find  was 
simply  this: 

"  Montgomery,  put  on  your  jacket  and  go  to 
Aunt  Eunice's  at  once." 

"  Gr-gr-gramma !  In  this  awful  s-s-storm  ? 
An'  that  t-t-tramp  ?  " 

There  was  no  relenting.  The  gentlewoman's 
glance  was  now  not  only  stern  but  scornful,  as  she 
returned : 

"  Are  you  a  Sturtevant,  and  ask  me  for  delay  ?  " 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

BUT STUETEVANT    TO    THE    RESCUE 

All,  the  conflicting  emotions  which  whirled 
through  Montgomery's  mind  pictured  themselves 
in  his  face  as  he  confronted  the  stern  old  gentle- 
woman opposite.  The  silence  in  the  room  was 
unbroken  save  hy  the  roar  of  the  tempest,  and  it 
seemed  aii  age  before  she  asked,  coldly : 

"  Are  you  afraid  ?  " 

But  there  was  no  hesitation  as  he  hastily  stam- 
mered : 

"  Y-y-yes,  gr-gram'ma,  I  am  afraid.  So  'fraid 
I  —  I  —  can't  hardly  think  nor  feel  nothin'. 
B-b-but  —  I'm  —  going !  " 

His  ruddy  cheeks  were  now  colorless  save  where 
the  freckles  spotted  them,  and  his  great  eyes 
seemed  to  have  grown  in  size;  but  though  there 
was  piteous  terror  in  their  blue  depths  there  was 
no  flinching  from  the  duty.  It  took  him  a  long 
time  to  button  his  jacket  and  adjust  his  cap. 
He  even  inspected  his  shoe-laces  with  a  hitherto 
unknown  care,  and  thoughtfully  placed  a  stick 
187 


188  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

of  wood  upon  the  dying  embers.  He  wished  — 
oh,  how  devoutly  he  wished  —  that  he  had  been 
born  just  a  common  boy,  like  Bob  Turner,  or 
any  other  village  lad,  and  not  a  Sturtevant! 
These  hateful  traditions  about  family  and  gentle- 
men —  Cracky !  How  that  wind  did  blow ! 
That  tramp —  Well,  he  dared  not  think  about 
the  tramp,  and  there  was  nothing  more  he  could 
find  to  delay  the  awful  moment  of  departure. 
With  a  last  imploring  glance  toward  Madam,  to 
see  if  there  was  no  relenting,  or  if  she  would  not 
suggest  some  easier  way,  "  'cause  she  knows  all 
'b-bout  honor  an'  such  p-pl-plag — uey  things," 
—  yet  finding  none,  he  dragged  himself  to  the  side 
door,  fumbled  a  moment  with  the  latch,  and  went 
out. 

Had  he  known  it,  Madam  Sturtevant  was  suf- 
fering more  than  he.  She  would  far  rather  have 
faced  the  elements  and  the  darkness  on  that  mile- 
long  walk,  unused  to  exposure  though  she  was, 
than  have  sent  this  last  darling  of  her  heart 
out  alone  and  unprotected.  Indeed,  she  sat  so 
still,  and  looked  so  anxious  for  a  time  after  he  had 
gone,  that  Alfaretta  ventured  to  touch  her  hand, 
and  to  comfort,  saying: 

"  Don't  you  worry,  dear  Madam.  Nothin'  '11 
happen  to  Monty.  Mr.  Jones,  he's  well  ac- 
quainted with  him,  an'  he  says  'at  Monty's  got 
as  many  lives  as  a  cat  He's  fell  doAVn-stairs,  an' 
out  of  a  cherry-tree,  an'  choked  on  fish-bones,  an' 


STUETEVANT   TO   THE   RESCUE     189 

had  green-apple  colic,  an'  been  kicked  by  Squire 
Pettijolin's  bull,  an'  tumbled  into  Foxes'  Gully,  — 
and  that  ain't  but  six  things  that  might  ha'  killed 
him  an'  didn't.  Besides,  Monty's  a  good  runner. 
Why,  Madam,  he's  the  fastest  runner  goes  to 
school !  True.  He's  more'n  likely  half-way  there 
whilst  we're  just  a-talkin'.  Shall  I  fetch  your 
specs  an'  the  Chronicle  newspaper  ?  Readin' 
might  pass  the  time  till  he  gets  back,  an'  I  guess 
—  I  guess  I  won't  be  too  scared  to  wash  the 
dishes  in  the  kitchen,  if  —  if  you'll  let  me  leave 
the  door  open  between." 

Alfaretta  had  enumerated  the  various  disasters 
which  had  befallen  Montgomery  upon  finger 
after  finger,  and  with  such  perfect  gravity  that 
the  anxious  grandmother  was  amused,  in  spite  of 
her  fear,  and  felt  herself  greatly  cheered.  With 
a  kindly  smile,  she  answered: 

"  Yes,  Alfy,  please  do  bring  it ;  and,  of  course, 
you  need  not  close  the  door.  We  are  sadly  late 
with  the  work  to-night,  but  you  may  sit  up  till 
my  son  comes  back.  You  are  a  dear,  good  child, 
Alfaretta,  doing  your  duty  faithfully  in  that 
state  of  life  to  which  you  were  born,  and  you  are 
a  comfort  to  me." 

The  happy  girl  fairly  flew  to  bring  the  "  specs  " 
and  the  last  number  of  the  religious  weekly 
which  Eunice  regularly  sent  to  her  old  friend. 
Conscience  was  rather  doubtful  about  that  ever 
faithful  performance  of  duty;    but  why  worry? 


190     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

Praise  was  sweet,  doubly  sweet  from  one  so  fine  a 
pattern  of  all  the  virtues  as  her  mistress,  and 
Alfaretta  had  found  comfort  for  her  own  seK  in 
comforting  another.  Besides,  now  she  was 
either  getting  used  to  it,  or  the  storm  was  lulling, 
for  the  blinds  did  not  rattle  as  they  had,  and 
that  mournful  soughing  of  the  wind  in  the  tall 
chimneys  had  nearly  ceased. 

The  bond-maid  had  rarely  "  done  "  her  dishes 
so  swiftly  or  so  well,  and,  having  set  them  in  their 
places,  she  put  out  the  kitchen  candle,  fetched 
her  knitting,  and-  sat  down  on  her  own  stool 
beside  the  fireplace.  For  a  wonder  she  was  not 
sleepy.  Too  much  had  occurred  that  day  to  fill 
her  imagination,  and  now  that  the  "  face  "  which 
had  terrified  her  was  safely  out  of  sight,  she 
began  to  recall  it  with  a  sort  of  fascination.  If 
it  were  a  ghost,  it  must  have  been  that  of  some- 
body she  had  once  known,  for  it  was  oddly 
familiar.  The  heavy  features  had  a  ghastly  re- 
semblance to  —  Who  could  it  be  ?  Uncle 
Moses  ?  Mr.  Turner  ?  The  stage-driver  ?  No, 
none  of  these ;  nor  of  any  old  pensioner  at  the 
"  Farm."  Then,  suddenly,  she  thought  of  Squire 
Petti  John,  terrible  man,  who  had  used  to  visit  that 
'"  Farm,"  inspect  its  workings,  suggest  further 
extreme  economies,  where,  it  seemed  to  the  bene- 
ficiaries, that  economy  had  already  reached  its 
limit,  ask  personal  questions,  such  as  even  a 
pauper  may  resent,  and  make  himself  generally 


STURTEVANT   TO   THE  RESCUE     191 


obnoxious.  Alfaretta  had  frankly  hated  him,  and 
had  never  been  more  thankful  than  when  she 
was  assigned  to  Madam  Sturtevant  rather  than 
to  Mrs.  Pettijohn  —  both  ladies  having  entered 
application  for  a  "  bound-out "  servant  at  the  very 
same  time.  Already  ashamed  of  misfortunes 
which  were  not  at  all  her  own  fault,  she  had 
resented  his  pinching  of  her  ears,  his  facetious 
references  to  her  worthless  parents,  his  chuck- 
ings  under  the  chin,  and  the  other  personal 
familiarities  by  which  some  elderly  people  fancy 
they  are  pleasing  younger  ones. 

"Madam!     May  I  speak?" 

"  Certainly,  Alfaretta.  I  haven't  been  able  to 
keep  my  thoughts  on  my  paper.  I  shall  be  glad 
to  hear  anything  you  have  to  say." 

"Well,  then!  Td  hate  to  think  it  of  any  — 
any  good  ghost,  but  there  was  somethin'  'bout 
that  face  'at  made  me  remember  somebody  I'd 
seen,  an'  the  somebody  was  —  Squire  Pettijohn  !  " 

"  Child,  how  absurd !  " 

"  Yes'm,  I  s'pose  it  is.  But  there  was  them 
same  big  eyebrows  standin'  out  fur  from  tliis 
white  face  as  his'n  does  from  his  red  one.  There 
was  the  same  sort  of  bitter  look  in  the  eyes,  only 
these  ones  was  afire.    Ain't  that  queer  ?  " 

"  Exceedingly  queer.  So  queer  that  you  must 
banish  the  notion  at  once  from  your  mind.  I  am 
convinced  that  it  was  some  poor,  homeless  wan- 
derer estrayed  into  this  quiet,  and,  I  fear,  inhos- 


192     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

pitable  village,  where  there  is  no  provision  for 
such  as  he.  I'm  sure  I  wish  he  were  safely  housed 
in  one  of  our  own  outbuildings  rather  than  roam- 
ing the  fields  on  such  a  night.  Even  an  old 
blanket  thrown  into  one  of  the  box-stalls  would 
have   been   comparative   comfort." 

"  y — es'm,"  assented  Alfaretta,  with  small 
enthusiasm.  But  what  she  did  like  to  hear  was 
Madam's  talk  of  the  old  times  when  the  now 
empty  stable  was  full  of  spirited  horses,  when 
guests  filled  the  silent  rooms,  when  servants  were 
many  and  the  larder  abundant,  and  life  and 
laughter  ruled  where  now  were  only  memories. 
It  always  sounded  like  make-believe;  and,  hum- 
ble poor-house  child  though  she  was,  Alfy  de- 
lighted in  make-believe. 

A  hint  was  commonly  sufficient  to  set  the  house- 
mistress  reminiscent,  and  once  started  upon  such 
retrospections  she  was  as  contented  to  continue  as 
her  little  maid  to"  listen ;  and  now  there  followed 
for  the  pair  an  hour  of  real  enjoyment. 

Once  really  past  the  threshold  Montgomery's 
reluctance  vanished.  If  he  had  anything  disa- 
greeable to  do  he  liked  to  get  it  over  with  at  once. 
The  walk  to  The  Maples  in  that  storm  was  cer- 
tainly disagreeable,  as  would,  doubtless,  be  his 
reception  there.  He  wouldn't  think  about  that 
part  of  the  affair  till  it  faced  him,  and  he  wouldn't 
let  any  grass  grow  under  his  feet  for  loitering 
upon  his  road.      Then   a  thought  of  Katharine, 


STURTEVANT   TO  THE   RESCUE      193 

alone  and  in  terror,  roused  all  his  real  manliness, 
so  that  he  cared  no  further  for  anything  save  to 
set  her  free.  He  would  now  promptly  have 
knocked  any  other  boy  down  for  calling  him  the 
hard  names  he  called  himself  all  the  way  from 
the  Mansion  to  Aunt  Eunice's,  and  he  disdained 
to  think  of  tramps,  thunder-claps,  or  broken  tree- 
limbs,  even  though  he  stumbled  over  some  of 
these  along  the  path.  Despite  the  obstructing 
wind,  he  had  never  run  so  swiftly,  and  the  re- 
sounding whack  he  gave  the  Maitland  knocker 
startled  all  within  the  house. 

Poor  Aunt  Eunice  required  but  little  now  to 
set  her  nerves  a-quiver,  and  was  anxiously  pacing 
the  sitting-room  floor,  wondering  how  and  where 
to  begin  that  search  for  little  Katharine,  which 
must  be  deferred  no  longer.  But  after  the  first 
shock  of  the  summons  she  ran  to  answer  it,  feel- 
ing sure  that  here  was  news  at  last;  and  there 
almost  fell  into  the  hall  a  drenched,  breathless 
lad,  who  could  only  stammer,  feebly: 

"H-h-hay— mow!" 

Then  he  dropped  upon  the  floor  to  catch  his 
breath. 

Miss  Maitland  stared  at  him,  wondering  if 
here  was  another  storm-crazed  victim.  Then  she 
remembered  that  "  H-h-h-hay — mow !  "  was  the 
one  and  only  word  the  boy  had  uttered  during 
that  scene  of  the  brass  bound  box.     ls"ow  again 


194  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

just  "  H-h-hay — ^mow !  "  She  passed  her  hand 
wearily  across  her  eyes  trying  to  understand. 

Then  said  the  last  of  the  Sturtevants,  recov- 
ering, and  stammering  but  slightly  in  his  earnest- 
ness: 

"  F-fetch  a  lantern,  quick !  We  went  up 
h-h-hay-mow  huntin'  eggs  —  an'  mine  are  in  the 
s-s-s-secret  ch-amber  —  an'  Squire  c-come,  an' 
I  skipped  an'  —  forgot !  " 

The  boy  was  himself  so  familiar  with  the 
premises  that  he  knew  exactly  where  to  find  the 
lantern,  and,  having  confessed  his  fault,  he  ran 
to  light  it.  He  was  also  first  at  the  barn,  though 
Miss  Maitland  and  Susanna  both  followed 
promptly  and  unmindful  of  the  rain. 

But  alas  for  Deacon  Meakin's  overcare !  He 
had  not  only  locked  the  doors,  but  he  had  hidden 
the  keys. 

Susanna  sped  back  to  the  house,  seeking  on  the 
shelf  where  he  had  placed  the  lantern  for  them, 
but  failing  to  find  them,  while  at  Eunice's  direc- 
tion Montgomery  felt  everywhere  under  the  flat 
stone  which  served  as  door-step  to  the  main 
entrance.  In  the  crannies  of  window  casings,  at 
the  tops  and  bottoms  of  all  the  doors,  in  the  cattle- 
shed  and  poultry-house,  in  any  sort  of  place  where 
a  Marsdenite  would  naturally  deposit  keys,  they 
searched   without    avail. 

Then  Miss  Maitland  bethought  herself  that  if 
Katharine  were  still  within  the  barn  and  heard 


STURTEVANT   TO  THE   RESCUE     195 


all  this  attempt  at  forcing  an  entrance  she  would 
be  further  frightened,  and  said: 

"  We  must  break  the  glass  in  that  window  be- 
hind the  stalls,  and  you,  Montgomery,  must  climb 
through.  As  soon  as  you  are  within,  call  to  the 
poor  child  and  tell  her  that  we  are  outside  and 
have  come  to  get  her.  Then  you  hand  us  out  some 
heavy  tools,  —  an  axe,  if  you  can  find  one,  would 
be  best,  —  and  we'll  break  down  the  door." 

With  that  the  lady  herself  took  a  stone  from 
the  barn-yard  wall  and  crashed  the  glass,  but 
Susanna  interposed: 

"  You  go  right  back  into  the  house,  Eunice 
Maitland,  and  not  stay  out  in  this  damp  to  get 
your  death  of  cold.  And  no  need  to  break  good 
doors.  Katy  ain't  no  bigger'n  Monty,  nor  so  big, 
an'  a  hole  he  can  get  into  she  can  come  out  of. 
Trust  her !  " 

Miss  Maitland  would  not  go  indoors,  but  she 
did  fold  the  shawl  she  had  caught  up  more  closely 
about  her  and  retreated  to  the  shelter  of  the  cow- 
shed, while  Susanna  stood  listening  beneath  the 
window  through  which  Monty  had  swiftly  dis- 
appeared. Fortunately,  the  storm  had  greatly 
abated  and  there  was  less  external  noise  to  drown 
the  sounds  within,  where  Montgomery  was  now 
shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice: 

"  K-K-Kath-arine !  Katy !  K-Kitty-kee- 

hotee !  " 

"  Yelp !     Snip !     Snap !     Gr-r-rrr !  "  came  in 


196  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

response,  and  Katharine  waked  from  the  dream- 
less sleep  into  which  exhaustion  of  grief  and 
terror  had  thrown  her. 

At  first  she  could  not  comprehend  what  it  all 
meant.  She  could  only  make  an  effort  to  restrain 
the  angry  pug  now  escaping  from  her  arms. 
Then  she  saw  Montgomery's  face  at  the  opening 
above  the  bay,  brilliantly  illuminated  by  the  lan- 
tern held  close  to  his  head  as  he  peered  inwards 
preparatory  to  a  leap.  With  a  scream  half  of 
relief,  half  of  dread  lest  she  should  again  be 
deserted,  she  ran  toward  the  window  and  held  her 
arms  up. 

The  light  disappeared,  but  before  she  had 
time  for  a  fresh  fear,  she  felt  her  hands  clasped 
by  Montgomery's  sturdy  ones,  and  she  was  bidden : 

"  Give   a   s-s-sp-spring  —  an'   I'll   haul  you !  " 

She  tried  once,  twice,  and  again,  but  there  was 
no  "  spring "  left  in  the  usually  active  limbs, 
and  she  sank  back  to  the  bay,  sobbing : 

"  Oh,  I  can't !  I  can't !  I've  tried  and  tried 
and  tried!  But  I  shall  never  get  out.  Never, 
never,  never."  And  it  was  proof  of  the  suffering 
she  had  undergone  that  there  was  no  indignation 
left  against  the  boy  who  had  caused  it,  but  only 
a  hopeless  acceptance  of  a  terrible  position. 

This  was  too  much  for  Monty.  He  would  far 
rather  have  had  her  rail  at  him  than  sob  so  heart- 
brokenly.  He  began  to  sob  himself  in  sympathy, 
and  called  back: 


STUETEVANT   TO  THE   RESCUE     197 

"  D-d-don't !  Qu-qu-quit  it !  See.  Look  up. 
I'll  h-h-hang  the  lantern  on  the  sill.  I  d-d-dassent 
take  it  down  there,  might  s-s-set  fire  to  the  hay. 
I'm  all  r-r-right  —  I  mean  you're  all  r-r-right. 
Get  out  the  way.    I'm  c-c-c-comin' !  " 

In  an  instant  he  had  leaped  dowTi  beside  her 
and  put  his  arm  around  her  quivering  shoulders. 
In  all  his  life  he  had  never  been  so  sorry  for  any- 
body or  anything  as  now  for  her  and  for  his  own 
neglectful  selfishness,  which  had  brought  her  to 
such  a  pass.  Yet,  heedless  Monty  had  had  many 
causes  for  regret  during  his  previous  career! 

"  I  thought  I  should  die !  Oh,  it  was  so  awful ! 
I  thought  I  should  certainly  die  here  alone  in  this 
place.  The  wind  would  almost  tear  the  roof  off, 
and  Punchy  howled  —  he  thought  he  was  dying, 
too,  maybe.  But  it  was  he  kept  me  from  it  — 
quite.  I  never  loved  him  so  in  all  my  life ! 
Can  —  is  there  a  way  —  you've  got  in,  too,  but 
is  there  a  way  out?  I  was  hungry,  I  thought  I 
would  starve.  Then  I  forgot  that  —  listening. 
And  the  lightning  —  I  was  sure  it  had  struck 
again  and  again.  I  waited  to  see  the  hay  blaze 
up.  Lightning  always  does  strike  barns,  doesn't 
it?" 

With  a  philosophy  beyond  his  years  Mont- 
gomery changed  the  subject. 

"  I  shall  have  to  boost  you,  i-i-if  you  c-c-can't 
climb  without.      P-p-put  your   feet   right  th-th- 


198     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

there  —  I'm  b-bo-boo-boostin'  my  best !  Catch 
hold  the  s-sill !     Cracky !     Up  you  g-g-go !  " 

Up  she  went,  indeed,  fear  forgotten,  every 
nerve  strained,  eager  already  to  attain  and  excel 
in  this  new  feat  of  climbing.  Folks  who  lived  in 
the  country  had  to  climb  —  or  perish  —  it  seemed. 
And  once  upon  the  sill  she  rolled  over  it  to  the 
broad  floor  of  the  barn  and  felt  herself  at  last 
in  safety. 

But  there  still  remained  that  other  climb,  to 
reach  the  broken  window  and  through  it  freedom 
and  friends  outside.  However,  this  was  a  trifle. 
Montgomery  brought  a  short  ladder,  which  he 
placed  beneath  the  window  that  he  had  had  the 
forethought  to  unbolt  from  the  outside,  and  when 
the  sash  rolled  back  in  its  groove  Katharine  was 
already  on  the  ledge,  Susanna's  strong  arms 
clasping  her  and  Aunt  Eunice  standing  near. 

Such  an  hour  as  followed !  Such  indigestibly 
delightful  foods  as  Susanna  brought  from  her 
storeroom  —  harbingers  of  holiday  feasts  to  come 
—  and  of  which  the  children  were  permitted  to 
partake  without  any  harm  or  restriction. 

"  Let  the  poor  little  creatur's  get  their  stum- 
micks  full  for  once,  sence  nary  one  hain't  had 
a  mouthful  of  victuals,  scurce  that,  to-day," 
cried  Susanna,  herself  feasting  her  eyes  upon 
the  now  joyous  faces  of  the  youngsters. 

Then    what     a    tap-tap-tapping    sounded     on 


STURTEVANT   TO  THE   RESCUE     199 

the  floor  of  the  kitchen  chamber!  Aunt  Eunice 
interpreting  the  same  to  mean : 

"  Poor  Moses  is  feeling  left  out  of  all  our  re- 
joicing and  feels  aggrieved.  He  wants  us  all 
to  come  up  and  tell  him  the  whole  story,  since 
he  cannot  himself  come  to  us.  But  alas  for 
Deacon  Meakin!  I  don't  envy  him  his  forth- 
coming interview  with  my  hired  man  to-morrow 
morning.  It  is  Moses'  right  to  still  direct 
matters,  even  if  he  cannot  work.  Both  men  are 
what  Mrs.  Meakin  calls  '  sot,'  and  I  foresee  some 
jarring  of  wheels,  so  to  speak,  before  they  run 
smooth.  But  let  us  go  up  at  once,  and  then  Monty 
must  be  starting  home." 

The  boy  sighed.  This  was  all  delightful. 
Badly  as  he  had  behaved,  he  had  received  no 
reproof.  Instead  of  that,  there  was  such  rejoic- 
ing over  Katharine's  safety  that  his  sins  had, 
apparently,  been  forgotten.  Yet  it  must  end  — 
there  still  remained  the  long  and  desolate  road 
home! 

Monty  talked  as  fast  as  ever  a  boy  could,  nor 
did  Katharine's  tongue  lag  far  behind,  and  for  a 
time  Moses  listened  eagerly.  Then  there  came 
pangs  of  physical  suffering  which  banished  in- 
terest in  all  else,  and  while  he  was  meditating 
how  now  best  to  rid  himself  of  his  guests,  the 
hall  clock  struck  nine. 

"  Nine  o'clock  !  My  suz !  I  didn't  know  it  was 
half  so  late !  "  cried  Susanna,  honestly  surprised. 


200  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

"  Time  you  was  home  and  abed,  Montgomery 
Sturtevant,  keepin'  your  poor  grandmother  up 
all  hours  like  this,  just  account  your  pranks.  My 
suz!  and  such  a  day.  May  I  never  see  another 
like  it!" 

"  Amen !  "  echoed  poor  Mr.  Jones,  so  devoutly 
and  in  a  voice  of  such  suffering  that  they  all 
silently  withdrew. 

"  Only  nine  o'clock  ?  Does  nobody  ever  sit  up 
till  a  respectable  hour,  here  in  Marsden  ?  Why, 
at  home,  our  evenings  never  began  till  after  this 
time,"  remarked  Katharine,  now  so  wide-awake, 
and,  it  must  be  confessed,  having  had  her  nerves 
freshly  excited  by  the  recital  of  her  woes  to  the 
sympathizing  ear  of  Uncle  Moses. 

"  Pooh !  N-n-nine  o'clock's  n-n-nothing,"  as- 
sented Monty,  who  had  never  been  out  so  late 
before  in  all  his  life. 

"  Isn't  it  ? "  asked  Aunt  Eunice,  smiling. 
"  Well,  all  the  same,  though  it  is  rude  to  dis- 
patch a  guest,  I'm  sure  it  is  full  time  for  you 
to  be  with  your  grandmother,  as  Susanna  justly 
remarked.  She  is  doubtless  anxious  about  you; 
and  as  for  you,  Katy  dear,  you  are  living  in 
quiet  Marsden  now  and  not  your  city  home." 

The  storm  was  fully  over  when  they  opened  the 
great  front  door,  and  the  moonlight  set  all  the 
rain-drenched  shrubs  and  trees  a-glitter,  so  that 
Katharine   exclaimed : 

"  Oh,  look!     It  seems  as  if  the  world  was  just 


STUETEVANT   TO  THE   RESCUE     201 

laughing  at  itself  for  having  been  so  naughty  a 
little  while  ago  !  " 

Aunt  Eunice  gave  the  child  a  little  squeeze, 
thinking  how  "  Johnny "  would  have  had  just 
such  a  fancy,  and  Monty,  wondering  if  all  girls 
had  queer  ideas,  bade  them  good  night  and  started 
whistling  down  the  path. 

"  We'll  stand  here  till  you  get  beyond  the  first 
big  tree,  my  lad,  and  we'll  follow  you  in  our 
minds  all  the  way,"  said  Miss  Maitland,  kindly. 
Then  to  Katharine  she  added,  softly :  "  He's 
doing  that  to  keep  his  courage  up." 

"  All  the  same  he  whistles  beautifully,"  an- 
swered the  girl,  loyally,  "  If  he  could  only  speak 
as  well  as  he  whistles  it  would  be  splendid.  Why, 
up  there  on  the  hay-mow  to-day,  some  sort  of 
bird  —  I  think  he  said  it  was  a  meadow-lark,  or 
skylark,  or  something  —  anyhow,  it  sang  ex-quis- 
ite-ly !  And  he  mimicked  it  so  well  I  almost 
thought  another  bird  had  come  through  the 
window  into  the  barn.  He's  a  real  nice  boy, 
Monty  is,  but  —  but  he  needs  some  '  retouching,' 
as  papa  darling  used  to  say  of  his  pictures." 

"  God  bless  him  —  and  his  o\vTi  '  Kitty 
Quixote,'  "  murmured  the  old  guardian,  tx)uched 
to  a  tender  softness  by  —  ah,  many  things !  and 
promptly   marshalling  her  latest  charge   to  bed. 

Lights  were  out  all  along  the  street  as  Mont- 
gomery's passing  whistle  disturbed  the  early  nai)s 
of  these   quiet   folk,    who   had   been   so   greatly 


202     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

interested  and  wearied  by  that  day's  unusual 
events.  But  the  clear,  birdlike  tones  were  com- 
fort to  one  harassed  wanderer. 

Shivering  in  his  wet  rags,  he  crept  out  from 
the  shelter  of  a  porch  to  hearken,  as  those  boyish 
lips  sent  forth  in  flute-like  tones  the  melody  of 
"  Home,  Sweet  Home."  Hearkening,  he  fol- 
lowed, fearing  he  should  lose  the  music  which 
impressed  him,  all  unknowing  why;  and  as  the 
whistler  left  the  last  village  house  behind  him 
and  set  out  to  run  over  the  long  stretch  of  lonely 
road,  which  lay  between  that  and  the  Mansion, 
the  follower  also  ran. 

Had  Montgomery  known  this  his  pace  would 
have  been  even  swifter  than  it  was,  and  the  mere 
fear  he  now  felt  would  have  become  abject  terror. 

But  he  did  not  know ;  and  the  unknown  tramp 
soon  lagged  far  behind.  He  had  neither  strength 
nor  desire  left  to  overtake  the  fleeing  lad,  since 
the  whistling  had  ceased,  and  consciousness  of 
his  own  misery  returned  upon  him.  So,  presently 
he  left  the  highway  and  limped  across  the  fields 
toward  the  woods  where  instinct  told  him  was  safe 
hiding;  and  Montgomery  reached  the  stately 
home  of  his  forefathers  in  good  time.  Between 
the  man  and  the  boy  there  seemed  no  possible 
connection,  yet  circumstances  were  already  link- 
ing their  lives  together  as  with  a  chain. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

ON    A    SATURDAY   AFTERNOON 

When  Deacon  Meakin  found  that  a  bam 
window  had  had  to  be  broken  because  of  his  for- 
getfulness  to  mention  where  he  had  put  the  keys, 
he  insisted  upon  paying  for  and  inserting  the  new 
glass  himself.  This  distressed  Miss  Maitland 
and  delighted  Moses;  but  the  new  caretaker 
carried  his  point,  declaring: 

"  If  I  can't  do  that  I'll  throw  up  the  job.  My 
own  hired  men,  'fore  I  moved  in,  had  to  pay  for 
their  breakin's,  and  sence  I've  turned  myself  into 
a  hired  man,  well,  it's  a  poor  rule  tliat  don't 
work  both  ways,  as  the  poet  says,  an'  what's  sauce 
for  the  goose  is  sauce  for  the  gander,  or  visy 
versy.  There'll  be  no  foolin'  done  on  these 
premises  whilst  I'm  in  charge,  an'  the  very  first 
thing  I'll  tackle  is  —  cleanin'  up." 

"  Why,  is  that  necessary  ?  Beyond  the  work 
that  comes  with  every  day  ?  Surely,  Moses  is  very 
neat,"  protested  Eunice,  on  behalf  of  her  old 
disabled  helper. 


204  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

"  Hm-m.  There's  neatness  —  an'  neatness ; 
an'  my  friend  Jones,  he's  a  fisherman  first,  an' 
a  farmer  afterward ; "  returned  the  deacon, 
grimly. 

The  real  truth  was  that  the  deacon  had  an  idea 
of  the  wonderful  casket's  being  hidden  somewhere 
in  that  bam.  As  he  reasoned  with  himself: 
"  A  barn's  the  least  likely  place  for  robbers,  to 
search  for  hid  treasure,  whether  it  is  a  gold  box 
or  a  gold  mine.  Eunice,  she  is  long-headed. 
She  wouldn't  want  things  in  the  house  that  might 
induce  folks'  breakin's  in,  more  particular  sence 
Widow  Sprigg  seen  that  tramp.  She  was  tellin' 
me  'bout  it  when  I  come  on  the  place  this  mornin' ; 
an'  nobody  needn't  tell  me  it  was  just  to  get  a 
girl  out  the  bay  that  that  winder  was  stove  in. 
That's  all  cock-an'-bull  yam ;  to  throw  me  an' 
others  off  the  track.  But  I'll  find  out,  I'll  find 
out." 

Which  shows  how  far  one's  imagination  may 
lead  in  the  wrong  direction ;  and  also  explains 
why  the  curious,  but  well-meaning,  man  put  him- 
self to  endless  trouble,  yet  also  did  his  owm  part 
in  silencing  the  rumors  of  the  previous  day. 
Though,  of  course,  his  labors  occupied  him  for 
several  days,  since  the  barn  was  big  and  his  work 
so  thorough.  After  emptying  and  refilling  every 
bin  and  box,  after  cleaning  every  set  of  harness 
which  had  or  had  not  been  used  for  years,  brush- 
ing the  few  cobwebs  from  the  rafters,  sweeping 


ON   A   SATURDAY  AFTERNOON     205 

the  floors  over  and  over,  he  repaired  to  the  hay- 
mow and  industriously  forked  over  the  whole 
mass. 

While  he  was  engaged  in  this  operation 
Susanna  visited  the  bam  and  asked  if  he  had 
gone  crazy.     His  answer  was: 

"  No,  not  crazy,  but  come  to  common  sense. 
Don't  suppose  I'd  feel  very  Christian-like,  do  ye, 
to  loaf  around  doin'  next  to  nothin'  an'  lettin' 
a  neighbor's  hay  heat?  Might  burn  ye  all  up  in 
your  beds." 

The  widow  reentered  the  house  laughing,  but 
indignant.  "  Says  your  hay's  in  danger  o'  heatin', 
Moses !  As  if  you  hadn't  cured  it  till  it  was  dry 
as  tinder  'fore  you  mowed  it  up.  Well,  'twon't 
do  no  harm,  an'  will  keep  him  out  of  mischief. 
He's  a  reg'lar  poke-noser.  Deacon  Meakin  is. 
But  he's  routed  them  hens  so  there  won't  be  no 
more  egg-layin'  in  high  places,  breakin'  a  body's 
neck  to  hunt  'em.  But,  my  suz !  I  wish  you 
could  ha'  seen  that  man's  face  when  he  handed 
me  over  your  fishin'-tackle.  You'd  ha'  thought 
'twas  poison,  the  way  he  touched  it." 

Moses  was  both  angry  and  amused,  but  con- 
tented himself  with  remarking: 

"  Si  Meakin  never  could  catch  fish  even  when 
he  was  boy  goin'  to  school.  lie  was  always  a 
gabbler,  an'  fish  has  got  sense.  They  won't  bite 
for  noisy  folks.     Slow  an'  gentle,  bide  your  time 


206     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

an'  keep  your  mouth  shut  —  that's  fishin'  for  ye. 
Oh,  shall  I  ever  get  to  go  again !  " 

"  Sure.  But  it's  time  for  your  chicken  broth. 
I've  stewed  it  down  rich  an'  tasty,  an'  there's  one 
good  thing  'bout  broken  legs  an'  ribs:  they  ain't 
broken  stummicks.  I'd  ruther  you'd  have  forty 
broken  legs  than  the  dyspepsy,  'cause  when  I 
take  the  pains  to  cook  good  victuals,  I  like  to  have 
'em  et.  Now,  turn  your  head  a  mite.  Here's 
a  nice  new  straw  to  drink  your  broth  through,  an' 
a  pile  more  for  you  to  chew  on,  like  you're 
always  doin'.  Seems  if  a  man  must  always  have 
somethin'  in  his  mouth,  an'  if  it  ain't  tobacco  it's 
straws.    Spriggs  he  —  " 

"  Don't  give  me  no  '  Spriggs,'  to-day ;  I 
couldn't  stand  him.  You've  told  more  things 
'at  Spriggs  done  in  his  thirty  years  of  life  than 
would  ha'  kept  most  men  busy  till  they  was  a 
hundered  !  "  cried  Moses,  petulantly.  "  And  if 
Kitty  Keehoty,  or  Monty,  ary  one,  comes  'round, 
do  for  pity's  sake  send  'em  up.  Here  I  lie, 
ball-an'-chained  to  a  bed  and  things —  Oh, 
dear !  " 

It  was  Saturday  and  a  busy  time  for  the  house- 
keeper. She  had  neither  leisure  nor  inclination 
to  argue  with  a  fretful  patient,  so  went  away  and 
left  him  to  himself.  But  she  found  his  desire 
for  Katharine's  society  an  excellent  thing.  As 
she  had  said  of  Deacon  Meakin,  "  it  kep'  her  out 
of    mischief "    to    act    as    nurse    to    the    injured 


ON   A   SATUEDAY   AFTERNOON      207 

farmer,  and  he  now  delighted  in  her.  The 
stories  of  her  old  life  in  the  Southern  city  were 
almost  like  the  fairy-tales  she  retold  from  printed 
books;  and  her  little  provincialisms  of  speech 
amused  him  as  much  as  his  country  dialect  did 
her.  She  had  soon  dropped  into  the  habit  of 
taking  his  meal-trays  to  him  and  strictly  enforced 
his  eating  a  "  right  smart  "  of  all  the  nourishments 
provided. 

At  noon  of  this  Saturday  she  was  perched  upon 
the  edge  of  his  cot,  daintily  feeding  him  -with 
bits  of  food  she  had  cut  up,  when  there  was  a 
clatter  of  feet  upon  the  stairs,  and,  breathless 
as  usual,  Montgomery  rushed  in,  announcing, 
without  even  a  nod  to  Moses : 

"I-it-it's  true!  Mis'  Turner's  seen  it  in  her 
w-w-wood-shed !  Widow  Sprigg  wasn't  m-m-mis- 
took!" 

"  Say  '  mistaken,'  Montgomery  Sturtevant, 
and  say  it  slow,"  corrected  Katharine,  severely, 
yet  immediately  turning  an  inquiring  look 
toward  Uncle  Moses.  Thus  far  her  efforts  to 
improve  her  playmate's  speech  had  been  a  safe 
secret  between  the  two.  They  hoped  to  keep  it 
such  until  the  lad  could  speak  a  "  whole  piece  " 
without  stammering. 

But  the  hired  man  had  not  observed  her  re- 
mark, or,  if  he  had,  probably  considered  it  but 
one  of  her  naturally  dictatorial  sort. 

"  A  reg'lar  tramp,  Monty  ? "  he  asked,  eagerly. 


208     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  R-r-r-regular.  Mis'  Turner'd  put  her 
p-p-pies  out  to  cool  on  the  wood-shed  r-r-roof  an' 
they  was  six  seven  of  'em,  an',  sir,  w-w-w-when 
she  went  t-t-t-to  take  'em  in  one  was  g-one !  Yes, 
sir !  An'  she  seen  somethin'  b-b-b-lack  scooting 
cross  lots,  1-1-li-lic-lick — ety  c-c-c-ut !  " 

"  Monty,  if  I  were  you,  I  wouldn't  try  to  say 
'  lickety-cut,'  till  — "  again  reproved  the  girl- 
teacher,  still  forgetful  of  secrecy.  Alid  again 
Mr.  Jones  ignored  her,  asking  the  boy : 

"  Where  was  Bob,  son  of  Mrs.  Turner,  about 
that  time?" 

"  F-f -fudge !  I  don't  know.  Somewhere's 
r-r-round,  m-maybe.  But  it  wasn't  him.  'Twas 
a  b-b-bigger,  b-b-be-beard-d-er  feller'n  him." 

"  You  said  '  six  seven  '  pies.  If  she  didn't  know 
how  many  she  made  how'd  she  know  she  lost 
any  ? " 

"Well,  sir!  An'  there  was  old  Mr.  Wither- 
spoon,  d-dr-driv-in'  down  mountain  with  a  load 
o'  c-c-carrots,  he  —  he  seen  him  cr-cr-cross  —  in' 
Perkins's  corn-field  an'  he  t-thought  'twas  a 
sc-sc-scarecrow,  till  it  walked.  Sc-sc-sc-sc  are- 
crows   couldn't  do  that  he  kn-kn-knew,    an'  — " 

Although  Eunice  had  done  her  utmost  to  keep 
the  story  of  the  brass  bound  box  a  secret  from 
even  her  own  household,  it  was  inevitable  that 
knowledge  of  it  should  come  to  the  ears  of  the  sick 
man,  since  it  was  the  chief  interest  of  the  many 
neighbors   who   called   to   see   him.      Yet   all   he 


ON   A   SATUEDAY   AFTEENOON     209 

could  gain  from  his  callers  was  the  vagiie  sus- 
picion each  entertained.  He  meant  now  to  get 
at  the  facts  of  the  case.  Montgomery  had  spread 
the  tale,  but  had  strangely  kept  silence  with  him, 
his  old  chum.  Montgomery  should  speak  now, 
or  Moses  would  know  the  reason  why;  and  if  he 
still  declined  to  explain  matters  he  should  be 
punished  by  being  left  out  of  the  next  fishing- 
party  Uncle  Mose  would  organize  —  if  he  ever 
fished  again !    He  interrupted,  saying : 

"  Never  mind  Witherspoon  an'  the  carrots, 
Monty.  Nor  tramps,  nuther.  Sence  I  ain't  con- 
stable, to  do  it  myself,  I  hope  the  poor  creatur' 
won't  get  'rested.  Don't  know  where'd  he  be 
stowed,  anyway,  in  this  benighted  Marsden,  where 
there  ain't  neither  a  jail  nor  a  touch  to  one.  What 
I  want  to  know  is :  What  did  you  find  in  Eunice's 
woods  ?  " 

Monty  did  some  rapid  thinking,  the  question 
had  been  a  surprise,  but  he  answered,  promptly: 

"  N-n-not-nothing." 

"  Montgomery  Sturtevant !  How  dare  you  ? 
An'  I  will  say  that's  the  first  lie  I  ever  heard  you 
tell.  You're  bad  enough,  oh,  you're  as  bad  as 
you  need  to  be,  but  —  a  liar !     Whew !  " 

The  lad  sprang  to  his  feet,  furious.  His  hands 
clenched,  and  it  was  well  that  his  accuser  was  a 
disabled  old  man,  else  the  "  hot  blood  of  the 
Sturtevants"    might    have    driven    their    young 


210  THE  BRASS  BOUND   BOX 

descendant  to  do  desperate  deeds.  As  it  was,  he 
choked,  glared,  and  finally  stammered : 

"  I-if  you  was  a  boy,  an'  not  old  1-li-like  you 
are,  I'd  make  you  t-t-take  that  back,  or  —  k-k-kill 
you!  It's  the  tr-tr-truth!  I  don't  lie!  Do  I, 
K-K-Katharine?" 

The  girl  had  never  seen  anybody  so  angry.  Her 
own  temper  was  quick  enough,  but  its  outbursts 
short-lived,  and  she  certainly  had  never  had  the 
least  desire  to  "  kill "  anybody.  Montgomery 
looked  as  if  he  meant  it,  and  in  distress  she  threw 
herself  upon  him  forcibly,  unclasped  his  clenched 
fingers,  and  begged : 

"  Don't  say  that,  Monty !  Oh,  don't  say  such 
dreadful  things !  "  Then  faced  around  toward  the 
cot,  declaring :  "  He  didn't  '  lie,'  Uncle  Moses. 
It's  true.    He  didn't  find  —  " 

Oh,  she  had  almost  betrayed  herself  in  her 
eagerness  to  defend  her  friend. 

"Didn't  find  what,  'Kitty  Keehoty'?  An' 
if  you  didn't  yourself,  lad,  why,  you  was  along 
at  the  time.  How  else —  But  I'm  sorry  I  used 
that  hateful  word.  I  don't  blame  you  for  your 
spunk.  I'd  knock  a  feller  down  'at  called  me 
'  liar '  to  my  face,  even  now,  old  an'  bedrid'  as  I 
be.  I  take  it  back  an'  call  it  square  —  if  you 
will.  But  tell  the  hull  business  now,  to  your  poor 
old  fishin'  teacher,  an'  let's  be  done  with  mys- 
teries. Eunice,  she's  as  mum  as  an  oyster;  an' 
Susanna,  she  talks  a  lot  of  explainin',  yet  don't 


OlSr  A   SATUEDAY   AFTERNOON     211 

explain  nothin'.  What's  all  about,  anyway,  that's 
set  Marsden  crazy?  Why,  one  man  come  to  see 
me,  was  tellin'  of  searchin'-parties  ransackin'  our 
woods,  prospectin',  or  somethin'.  D'ye  ever  hear 
such  impudence?  Why,  if  I  was  constable,  I'd 
arrest  every  man-jack  of  'em  that's  dared  to  put 
pickaxe  or  spade  in  our  ground!  I'd  have  the 
law  on  'em,  neighbor  or  no  neighbor.  Well,  they 
won't  find  a  thing.  'Cept  maybe  a  few  chestnuts 
or  such.  As  for  gold  —  Hm-m !  But  somethin' 
was  found  —  what  was  it,  Monty  ?  " 

The  lad's  anger  was  ebbing,  but  he  was  still  in 
an  unfriendly  mood.  Besides,  he  remembered  the 
promise  he  had  made  to  Aunt  Eunice,  —  broken 
beforehand,  —  and  resolved  that  he  would  keep 
silence  now,  even  if  the  harm  were  already  done. 
So  he  closed  his  lips  very  tightly,  and  looked 
steadily  out  of  the  window.  Katharine  followed 
this  good  example,  and  the  pair  seemed  wholly 
absorbed  —  in  nothing  at  all. 

"  Can't  you  speak  ?  Are  you  both  struck  dumb 
all  to  oncet?  Is  that  the  manners  you  think's 
polite  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Jones,  testily. 

Then  Monty  spoke.  "  Gr-gram-ma  sent  me  to 
ask  how  you  w-w-were.     I'll  go  an'  tell  her." 

"  Won't  you  stay  and  play  ?  And,  oh,  let  me 
tell  you.  Mr.  Deacon  Mcakin  is  cleaning  up  the 
barn  just  splendidly,  and  it  will  be  all  ready  for 
—  you  know  what !  "  cried  Katy,  excitedly,  and 
forgetful  of  the  keen  ears  of  the  man  on  the  cot. 


212     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

She  was  reminded  of  them,  however,  when  he 
again  demanded : 

"  What's  that  ?  What'll  the  barn  be  ready  for  ? 
I  want  you  young  ones  to  understand  there's  to  be 
no  monkey  shines  of  any  sort  whilst  I'm  laid  up. 
An'  you're  a  sassy  pair,  the  two  of  ye !  " 

"  I  don't  mean  to  be  saucy,  but  you  make  me. 
And  I  guess  you  must  be  getting  well  very  fast, 
'cause  widow  says  that  being  cross  is  a  good 
sign  —  and  I'm  sure  you're  perfectly  horrid, 
so  there !  "  cried  Kate,  pertly,  and  seizing  Monty's 
hand  hurried  him  down  the  stairs. 

She  had  no  sooner  reached  the  bottom  of  them 
than  she  regretted  her  impertinence,  and  would 
have  returned  to  apologize,  had  not  Aunt  Eunice 
just  then  appeared  in  the  doorway,  wearing  her 
street  things,  while  Deacon  Meakin  was  also 
bringing  the  top-buggy  around  from  the  carriage- 
house.  Katharine  loved  driving,  of  which  luxury 
she  had  had  very  little;  and  the  few  times  she 
had  been  out  with  Miss  Maitland  since  her  arrival 
at  The  Maples  had  been  her  happiest  hours.  The 
whole  countryside  was  rich  in  autumn  coloring, 
and  through  her  artist  father  the  child  had  learned 
to  "  see  things."  She  was  continually  surprising 
all  around  her  by  finding  such  a  store  of  beauty  in 
every  simple  thing.  A  yellow  or  scarlet  leaf  was 
far  more  than  that  to  her;  it  was  a  picture  of 
varying  tints  and  shades,  which  she  would  study 
with  keenest  interest.     She  had  pointed  out  to 


ON  A  SATUKDAY  AFTEENOON     213 


Aunt  Eunice,  upon  that  last  drive  up-mountain, 
at  least  twenty-five  tones  of  green,  and  had  seized 
the  reins  suddenly  to  stop  old  Dobbin  that  she 
might  gaze  her  full  upon  a  decrepit  cedar-tree 
robed  and  garlanded  with  scarlet  woodbine. 
Marsden  village  might  seem  dull  to  her  after  her 
city  life,  but  nature  more  than  compensated; 
so  that  now  her  fear  was  not  that  she  must  stay, 
but  that  her  guardian  —  perforce  —  would  tire 
of  her. 

"  Oh,  aunty !    May  I  go  ?  " 

"  No,  Katharine,  not  to-day.  I  am  going  to 
visit  an  old  friend,  who  is  very  ill.  I  do  not 
know  when  I  shall  be  back,  but  be  a  good  girl 
and  do  whatever  Susanna  tells  you.  Good-bv. 
Good-by,  Montgomery.  Please  give  my  love  to 
your  grandmother,  and  thank  her  for  sending 
to  inquire  after  Moses." 

Then  the  lady  stepped  into  the  buggy,  the 
deacon  chirruped  to  Dobbin,  and  they  rode 
away.  At  the  same  moment  came  a  shrill  whistle 
from  the  street,  and  Monty  ran  to  the  gate. 
Bob  Turner  and  a  lot  of  boys  were  waiting  near, 
rods  over  their  shoulders  and  fish-hooks  in  their 
pockets,  intent  upon  a  Saturday  half-holiday  at 
their  favorite  sport.  Besides  their  tackle  they 
had  great  sacks  of  burlap,  or  canvas,  because  when 
they  had  caught  all  the  fish  in  the  river  they 
expected  to  gather  all  the  chestnuts  in  the  woods. 
In  any  case,  they  were  bound  for  a  good  time, 


214     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

and  Montgomery  did  not  hesitate  in  joining 
them.  He  delayed  just  long  enough  to  go  into 
the  house  and  secure  Moses'  oldest  line  and  rod, 
catch  up  a  basket  for  nuts,  and  was  off,  leaving 
a  very  lonely  girl  standing  on  the  path  and  wish- 
ing most  earnestly  that  she  had  been  born  a  boy 
so  she,  too,  might  do  things  worth  while.  She 
had  already  heard  so  much  about  the  delightful 
art  of  angling  that  she  longed  to  try  it  for  her- 
self; but  with  Uncle  Moses  helpless,  and  Monty 
—  so  mean !  —  He  might  have  taken  her.  He 
might  have  stayed  and  talked  over  their  secret 
scheme,  which  Deacon  Meakin  was  unconsciously 
furthering  by  his  ultra  tidiness.  He  might,  at 
least,  have  promised  to  bring  her  some  chestnuts. 
But  he  had  done  none  of  these  thoughtful  things. 
He  had  been  just  plain  —  boy !  Girls  ?  Were  there 
any  she  might  visit  uninvited  ?  Aunt  Eunice  was 
very  particular  about  that.  She  had  explained  that 
the  Turner  girls,  Sophronia  Walker,  and  even 
the  Clackett  sisters,  Mercy  and  Lucinda,  had 
many  household  duties  to  perform.  Especially 
on  Saturdays  were  their  services  in  demand,  since 
at  this  time  of  year  there  was  pickling  and  pre- 
serving, soap-making  and  carpet-weaving;  even 
among  the  more  thrifty  households  "  butchering 
and  packing."  Most  families  deferred  the  latter 
operation  until  much  colder  weather,  but,  as 
Susanna  expressed  it,  "  there's  some  in  Marsden 
township  'at  if  they  knowed  they  was  to  be  hung 


ON  A   SATURDAY   AFTERNOON     215 

'd  want  it  done  the  day  afore,  they're  so  fore- 
handed." Even  the  widow  herself,  Katharine 
fancied,  leaned  a  little  toward  this  "  forehanded- 
ness,"  since  she  made  fruit-cake  six  months  before 
it  was  to  be  eaten ;  and  on  that  memorable  night 
of  the  storm  had  actually  produced  for  each  child 
a  piece  of  the  same  sort  of  cake,  meltingly  luscious 
and  moist  in  one's  mouth,  with  the  statement  that 
it  had  been  baked  just  seven  years  before.  And 
when  Katharine  had  exclaimed  in  amazement,  had 
replied : 

"  My  suz !  That's  nothin'  to  what  some  keeps 
it.  Mis'  Turner,  she's  got  part  her  weddin'  loaf 
yet,  an'  she's  been  married  more  years  'an  I  can 
exactly  recollect ;  while  her  own  mother  has  some 
'at's  twenty-five  years  old.  Fact.  Hers  is  gettin' 
ruther  dry,  but  it's  always  been  kep'  in  a  stone 
crock  in  a  tin  case  an'  only  opened  a-Thanksgiving 
time,  when  everybody  in  the  hull  connection  is 
to  dinner,  and  is  give  a  tiny  bit  for  remembrance' 
sake." 

Thinking  over  her  guardian's  infonnation, 
there  seemed  to  be  no  house  where  the  young  folks 
would  have  leisure  for  company,  and  the  home 
prospect  was  rather  lonely. 

"  Oh,  for  even  a  little  Snowball  to  play  with ! 
Uncle  Moses  —  I  was  rude  to  him,  but  he's  so 
cross  I  can't  go  back  and  be  shut  up  with  him 
this  beautiful  afternoon.  If  I  go  just  to  say  that 
I'm  sorry  he'll  make  me  tell  him  a  lot  of  stories 


216  THE   BE  ASS   BOUND   BOX 

to  prove  my  sorrow.  That's  one  of  his  ways. 
The  Widow  Sprigg  is  sufficient  unto  herself  and 
her  scrubbing  —  of  a  Saturday.  I've  found  that 
out.  Deacon  Meakin  isn't  at  the  bam  and  I  might 
go  there,  but  he's  spoiled  the  barn  for  me.  I  feel 
just  as  if  I  was  in  somebody's  parlor,  some  Mars- 
den  body's  parlor,  that's  so  much  in  order  it 
makes  everybody  who  goes  into  it  as  stiff  as  itself. 
I've  found  that  out,  too,  going  calling  with  Aunt 
Eunice.     I  wish  —  " 

Susanna  suddenly  called  out  to  the  girl  sitting 
upon  the  porch  step  and  thus  ruefully  communing 
with  herself: 

"Ka-ty!     Katharine!" 

"  Yes,  Widow  Sprigg !  Here  I  am  —  coming. 
What  is  it  ?     Something  to  do  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  should  say  'twas  somethin'  to  do ! 
Here's  that  wild-headed  Monty  took  an'  scampered 
off  just  as  I  was  takin'  this  batch  of  punkin  pies 
out  the  oven.  Eunice  wants  me  to  send  a  couple 
of  'em  to  Madam,  an'  this  currant- jell-roll.  I 
laid  out  to  add  a  loaf  of  brown  bread  an'  a  pat 
of  butter,  'cause,  say  what  they  will,  an'  let 
Madam  Sturtevant  be  as  good  butter  maker  as  they 
claim,  I  'low  old  Whitey's  milk  can't  hold  to  rich- 
ness alongside  our  young  Alderneys;  an'  besides, 
can't  be  much  milk  left  for  butter  after  Monty 
an'  Alfy's  drunk  their  fill.  'Tain't  much  besides 
milk  they  do  get,  nuther,  'cept  what  we  send  'em. 
Well,  it's  most  like  two  families  bein'  one  the  way 


ON  A   SATURDAY  AFTERNOON     217 

Eunice  she  feels.  I  wonder,  could  you  be  trusted 
to  carry  the  things  to  the  Mansion  ? " 

"  Could  I  not  ? "  cried  Katharine,  gaily,  skip- 
ping about  the  kitchen  in  her  fanciful  way  at  this 
prospect  of  a  change.  "  And  I'd  go  that  cross- 
fields  road  Monty  showed  me.  Over  the  meadows 
amongst  the  goldenrod,  past  the  stone  walls  where 
the  woodbine  and  clematis  run  over  each  other 
trying  to  make  the  old  gray  rocks  beautiful. 
There's  a  corn-field  down  beside  the  river  so  like 
a  picture  papa  painted  that  I  can  almost  see  his 
dear  hand  holding  the  brush.  And  the  forest  is 
like  a  great  palette  set  full  of  reds  and  blues  and 
greens  and  yellows,  out  of  God's  own  color-box. 
Oh,  it's  such  a  glorious  old  world,  Susanna,  and 
I'm  so  glad,  so  glad  to  be  alive !  " 

The  widow  put  her  arms  akimbo  and  looked  at 
Katharine  over  her  spectacles,  as  she  might  have 
studied  some  new  and  rather  formidable  insect. 
Then  she   remarked: 

"  My  suz !  you  didn't  look  none  too  peart  when 
I  first  called  ye.  If  I'd  had  an  opinion  to  give  I 
should  ha'  give  it  that  you  was  down  in  the  mouth. 
Well,  never  mind.  You're  a  funny  child,  but  I 
guess  you'll  make  some  kind  of  woman  if  you  live 
long  enough.  Hand  me  down  that  basket  from 
the  second  pantry  shelf,  whilst  I  wrop  that  jell- 
roll  in  a  napkin.  Take  notice  of  the  basket. 
Eunice,   she  had  it  made  to  the  basket-maker's 


218     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

up-mountain.  She's  dreadful  good  to  the  basket- 
makers,  Eunice  is." 

"  Widow  Sprigg,  I  think  she's  '  dreadful  good  ' 
to  everybody  —  to  everybody  lives.  Yet  she  looks 
so  sort  of  stern  and  dignified  sometimes  I  feel 
afraid  of  her.  But  it  is  a  curious  basket,  truly. 
What  —  " 

"  Watch  an'  see,  an'  don't  ask  so  many  ques- 
tions.    Girls'  eyes  ought  to  save  their  tongues." 

The  basket  was  beautifully  woven  of  finest  wil- 
low, and  was  like  a  tiny  cupboard  in  the  matter  of 
shelves,  each  shelf  fitted  with  a  little  rim  to  keep 
whatever  might  be  placed  upon  it  from  slipping 
off.  There  were  six  of  these  shelves,  all  remov- 
able at  will,  and  Susanna  now  took  out  all  but 
two.  Upon,  these  she  placed  the  pies,  and  in  the 
larger  spaces  left  bestowed  a  monster  loaf  of 
brown  bread,  the  jell-roll  and  the  butter.  As 
there  was  still  a  small  part  unfilled  she  added  a 
tumbler  of  strained  honey,  covered  the  whole  with 
a  napkin,  hooked  down  the  lid,  and  said: 

"  Now  get  your  hat  and  jacket.  See  't  your 
shoes  is  tied;  them  silk  strings  is  too  fancy  for 
use.  Got  a  handkerchief?  All  your  buttons  fas- 
tened ?     Feel  just  comf'table  everyways  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  dear  old  caretaker !  I'm  what  Uncle 
Moses  calls  as  '  right  as  a  trivet,'  whatever  that 
may  be." 

Katharine  sped  away  for  her  jacket,  and  in 
passing  a  hall  shelf  noticed  lying  upon  it  a  pile  of 


ON   A   SATUEDAY   AFTERNOON     219 


Uncle  Moses'  "tackle,"  including  a  wonderful 
jointed  rod  that  he  had  always  thought  too  fine 
for  use,  but  one  which  her  own  father  had  sent 
as  a  gift  years  before  she  was  born.  It  had  been 
brought  forth  and  exhibited  to  her,  and  had  since 
reposed  a;mong  less  valuable  belongings  in  this 
conspicuous  place.  Her  father  was  much  in  her 
mind  that  day,  and  the  rod  seemed  to  bring  him 
even  nearer.  A  whim  seized  her.  Since  there 
was  nobody  to  teach  her  about  fishing  she  would 
even  teach  herself.  What  her  father  had  done 
as  a  little  boy  must  be  right  for  her,  his  child.  So, 
when  she  left  the  house  a  few  minutes  later,  the 
rod  was  in  her  hand,  line  and  fish-hooks  in  her 
pocket  Nor  had  she  thought  it  necessary  to 
mention  this  fact  to  Susanna  when  she  appeared 
before  the  housekeeper  to  receive  her  basket. 

"  Take  dreadful  care  of  it,  Katy.  I  know  it's 
heavy,  but  'tw^on't  be  only  one  way.  It'll  be  empty 
comin'  back,  and  I  do  hope  the  victuals  will  eat 
well!" 

They  were  destined  to  "  eat "  uncommonly 
<*  well ;  "  but,  alas !  not  by  the  mouths  for  which 
they  were  intended. 


CHAPTEK   XV. 

BY    THE    OLD    STONE    BRIDGE 

One  came  down  into  the  long,  main  street  of 
Marsden  village  from  a  hill  at  either  end,  and 
through  an  avenue  of  trees  whose  branches  met 
overhead.  There  were  a  few  side  streets,  -with. 
scattering  houses,  and  the  "  Crossroads "  nearly 
midway  of  the  chief  thoroughfare,  with  its  four 
corners  occupied  by  the  church,  the  schoolhouse, 
the  post-office,  and  the  tavern.  On  the  north  side 
the  ground  rose  gently  for  a  distance,  then  climbed 
abruptly  to  the  "  mountain,"  in  reality  but  a  high, 
wooded  hill.  On  the  south  there  were  rich 
meadows,  wide  pastures,  and  the  winding  noisy 
river,  that  darted  here  and  there  through  the 
valley  as  if  having  no  mind  of  its  own  which 
way  it  should  run.  On  this  south  side  was  also  the 
great  forest  called  "  Maitland's  w'oods,"  that 
already  Katharine  had  learned  to  love  almost  as 
warmly  as  did  Aunt  Eunice.  To  the  latter  the 
forest  was  as  something  sacred,  a  spot  where 
nature  should  have  her  will  and  not  despoiling 
man.  When  firewood  must  be  cut  from  it,  for 
220 


BY   THE    OLD    STONE   BRIDGE      221 

coal  was  an  unknown  fuel  in  Marsden,  she  went 
herself  to  select  such  trees  as  must  be  sacrificed  — 
always  the  unsightly  ones  which  storms  had 
broken,  not  trusting  even  Moses  to  cut  one  till 
she  had  condemned  it. 

As  that  unfortunate  man  had  observed : 
"  If  Eunice  she  had  let  me  trim  out  the  under- 
bresh  now  an'  then  I  shouldn't  ha'  broke  my  leg 
a-stumblin'  over  old  tree-roots.  But,  no !  Things 
must  be  kep'  just  as  they  was  in  the  old  Colonel's 
time,  no  matter  what!  She  'pears  to  think  that 
timber's  got  as  much  feelin'  as  folks,  an'  I  'low 
there  ain't  no  other  oaks  an'  pines  an'  maples  to 
compare  with  'em  left  this  section  of  the  State. 
It  makes  me  plumb  wild  to  lie  here  helpless,  an' 
think  o'  them  villagers  a-trompin'  her  brakes  an' 
scarin'  them  gray  squir'ls  that  there's  so  few  of, 
anyway,  let  alone  the  birds  an'  chipmunks!  Oh, 
hum !  " 

Surely,  there  was  no  lovelier  spot  in  the 
world,  so  Katharine  felt,  finding  the  basket 
rather  heavy,  and  running  across  fields  the  sooner 
to  be  rid  of  it.  But  this  by-path  led  to  the  river 
and  a  quaint  old-time  bridge  which  spanned  it; 
and  here  the  girl  meant  to  rest  and  give  herself 
a  lesson  in  angling.  Setting  her  basket  down  in 
the  shade  of  some  alder-bushes,  she  swung  her 
feet  over  the  stone  ledge  of  the  bridge  and  pre- 
pared to  arrange  her  tackle.  To  fit  the  jointed  rod 
into  a  desirable  length  was  simple  enough,  and 


222     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

to  attach  the  line  with  its  hook  as  easy ;  but  there 
trouble  began. 

"  I  never  thought  a  thing  about  bait,  and  where 
shall  I  get  it?  I  suppose  the  ground  is  just  as 
full  of  worms  here  as  it  is  in  the  garden  where  the 
boys  dig  them.  But  —  ugh !  Shall  I  dare  to 
touch  one  if  I  find  it  ?  "  she  asked  herself.  Then 
as  promptly  exclaimed :  "  I  must !  I  just  must ! 
I'll  catch  the  nicest  fish  out  the  water  and  take  it 
home  to  Uncle  Moses  for  his  supper.  Susanna 
will  cook  it,  I'm  sure  —  or,  maybe,  let  me  do  it 
myself.  Then  I'll  take  it  to  that  poor  sick  man 
on  one  Aunt  Eunice's  prettiest  dishes,  and  he'll 
forgive  me  for  saying  such  impudent  things  to 
him.  It  will  make  it  easier  to  apologize  if  I  have 
a  gift  in  my  hand,"  said  this  wise  little  maid. 
Unfortunately,  she  said  it  aloud,  having  the  bad 
habit  of  talking  to  herself  whenever  there  was  no- 
body else  to  talk  to. 

Then,  picking  up  a  sharp  stick,  she  resolutely 
set  to  work  to  unearth  an  angleworm.  But  this 
was  difficult.  The  mold  was  hard  and  sunbaked, 
and  the  stick  of  little  use.  Its  point  broke  re- 
peatedly; yet  the  longer  she  labored  the  more 
determined  she  became,  and  finally  she  did  suc- 
ceed in  driving  a  red  earthworm  from  its  haunts. 
Ko  sooner  had  it  come  to  the  surface  than  she 
sprang  away  in  disgust,  exclaiming: 

"  Oh,  you  nasty,  dirty,  squirmy  thing !  I 
wouldn't  touch  you  for  anything!     Indeed,  I'll 


BY   THE   OLD    STONE   BRIDGE      223 

never  learn  to  fish  if  I  have  to  handle  such  beasts 
as  you.  Monty  takes  them  in  his  fingers,  and 
even  cuts  them  in  pieces  if  he  doesn't  have  enough 
without.  The  horrid  boy !  He  says  it  doesn't  hurt 
them,  that  they're  so  used  to  it,  an'  till  this  minute 
I  never  thought  how  little  sense  there  was  in  that. 
I  —  I  guess  I'll  put  a  leaf  on  the  hook  and  throw 
that  in.  I  should  think  a  fish  would  rather  eat 
a  nice  clean  leaf  than  a  worm." 

Selecting  a  bit  of  the  red  sorrel  growing  near, 
she  baited  her  hook  and  cast  her  line.  She  had 
learned  how  to  do  that  from  seeing  Uncle  Jkloses 
test  his  various  rods  at  home,  and  set  herself  to 
wait  and  watch  with  the  "  patience  "  he  prescribed 
for  any  successful  angler. 

Waiting,  she  fell  to  day-dreaming,  and,  for  her 
further  ease  in  this  line,  curled  herself  down  in 
the  shade  of  the  alders  and  closed  her  eyes. 
Beautiful  pictures  came  to  her  behind  those  shut 
lids,  none  more  lovely  than  this  very  scene  of 
which  she  fancied  she  was  the  only  living  human 
feature. 

"  All  alone  in  God's  beautiful  world !  With 
the  sky  so  blue  and  white ;  the  woods  so  —  so 
every  wonderful  color;  the  river  so  dark  and 
babble-y,  chattering  over  the  stones  that  it  had 
more  to  say  than  it  had  time  to  say  it  in;  the 
birds  singing  and  flying;  the  air  so  soft  and 
warm ;  and  nobody  here  but  me !  Well,  I'm  glad 
that  even  I  am  here,  just  a  little  girl  like  me,  to 


224  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

tell  Him  there  is  somebody  who  sees  and  thanks 
Him !  " 

Then  away  she  drifted  into  thoughts  she  could 
not  have  framed  in  words,  but  which  kept  all 
fear  from  her  and  filled  her  young  soul  with  a 
longing  to  be  good  and  to  do  good. 

But  she  was  not  alone  as  she  believed.  Among 
those  same  alders  lining  the  river  bank  lay  an- 
other of  God's  creatures,  whose  dreams  were 
unlike  the  child's,  indeed,  but  upon  whose  clouded 
mind  the  beauty  of  that  hour  was  not  wholly  lost. 
He  had  been  asleep,  as  she  afterward  declared 
she  had  not  been,  and  her  converse  with  herself 
aroused  him.  He  had  lain  down  where  the  bushes 
screened  him  well  —  for  hiding  was  a  second 
nature  to  this  man  —  and  he  did  not  move  when 
he  awoke.  He  merely  fixed  his  eyes  upon  Katha- 
rine as  he  saw  her  through  the  branches  and 
watched  what  she  would  do.  He  saw  her  fix  her 
tackle,  her  struggle  with  herself  concerning  the 
earthworm,  and  smiled  dully.  Once  he  had  fished 
from  that  same  bridge.  From  among  many  later 
and  less  pleasant  memories  that  stood  out  as 
clearly  as  anything  in  these  later  days  was  ever 
clear  to  this  unfortunate.  Ah !  the  girl  was  going 
to  sleep  !    and  he  would  fish  again ! 

Very  slowly  and  cautiously,  lest  he  should 
awaken  her,  he  crept  forward  through  the  bushes, 
out  upon  the  bank  where  the  smooth  grass  made 
creeping  easier,  inch  by  inch  forward  till  he  had 


BY   THE   OLD   STONE   BRIDGE      225 


come  face  to  face  with  her.  Then  a  sudden  grasp 
at  the  rod  in  her  hand  and  she  awoke,  sprang  to 
her  feet,  beheld  him,  and  in  her  fear  leaped  back- 
ward, unheeding  where  she  set  her  foot.  It  had 
chanced  to  be  upon  a  loose  rock  which  rolled  down- 
wards with  her,  and  she  felt  herself  falling  into 
the  stream. 

But  she  did  not  reach  the  water.  Her  skirts 
were  clasped  firmly  and  herself  dragged  backward, 
to  be  dropped  upon  the  ground  with  more  force 
than  needful.  It  was  all  done  in  a  second  or  two 
of  time,  but  it  sufficed  to  show  her  that  she  had 
escaped  one  peril  but  to  encounter  another.  The 
man  who  had  pulled  her  from  the  river,  the  man 
who  sat  now  close  beside  her,  was  Marsden's 
much  discussed  —  tramp ! 

For  a  moment  her  heart  almost  stopped  beating, 
and  she  turned  her  eyes  with  a  hopeless  glance 
across  the  fields  by  which  she  had  come.  Oh,  how 
wide  they  were  and  how  desolate!  All  their 
glorious  beauty  faded  from  her  vision  till  they 
seemed  but  an  endless  waste  between  her  and 
safety.  Oh,  if  she  had  only  gone  by  the  straight 
and  longer  road,  instead  of  yielding  to  a  whim 
she  had  not  dared  to  speak  of  to  Susanna!  If 
she  hadn't  stopped  to  fish  she  would  already  have 
been  at  the  Mansion,  which  now  it  seemed  she 
would  never  see  again.  A  tramp.  It  was  the  one 
thing  in  the  world  of  which  she  had  the  greatest 
fear,  and  the  behavior  of  Widow  Sprigg,  as  well 


226  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

as  the  other  villagers,  had  convinced  her  that  here 
was  a  tramp  of  the  worst  variety. 

Then  her  sense  of  what  was  "  fair  "  made  her 
force  her  eyes  toward  her  unwished-for  compan- 
ion. To  her  surprise  he  was  not  paying  the 
slightest  attention  to  her,  and  he  didn't  look  so  — 
well,  not  so  fearfully  wicked.  He  certainly  was 
clothed  in  the  poorest  and  dirtiest  of  rags.  His 
bare  feet  showed  through  the  holes  in  his  shoes. 
His  hat  had  a  brim  but  half-way  around.  His 
hair  had  not  seen  a  comb  for  so  long  that  he  must 
have  forgotten  what  a  comb  was  like.  His  face 
was  roughly  bearded,  but  it  was  very  pale  and 
not  so  dirty  as  his  hands.  His  eyebrows  stood  out 
at  an  angle  above  his  wild  eyes,  and  were  the 
bushiest  she  had  ever  seen,  except  Squire  Petti- 
john's.  He  wasn't  a  bit  like  that  sleek  and  portly 
gentleman,  yet,  even  as  he  had  done  in  Alfaretta's 
case,  he  brought  the  village  potentate  to  mind. 
And  —  what  was  it  he  was  doing  ? 

With  an  old  clasp-knife  he  had  drawn  from  his 
rags  he  was  digging  bait!  Not  as  she  had  dug, 
with  timid,  tentative  jabs  from  the  point  of  a 
stick,  but  systematically,  thoroughly,  just  as 
Monty  would  have  done.  He  had  found  a  spot 
where  the  earth  was  soft  and  rich,  and  was  wholly 
absorbed  in  his  task.  So  absorbed  that  Katharine 
felt  it  safe  to  attempt  flight,  and  got  upon  her 
feet. 

But  he  pulled  her  roughly  down  again.    Yet  he 


BY   THE   OLD   STONE   BKIDGE      227 


showed  no  enmity  toward  her,  and  with  the  swift 
intuition  of  youth  she  comprehended  that  he 
wished  her  to  stay  and  see  him  fish.  He,  the 
tramp,  was  to  give  her  her  first  lesson  in  angling! 
What,  what  would  Uncle  Moses  say? 

Always  quick  to  see  the  comic  side  of  any 
incident,  Katy  laughed.  She  couldn't  have  helped 
it  even  if  he  had  struck  her  the  next  instant.  He 
didn't  strike,  he  merely  laughed  in  response  —  his 
first  laughter  of  many  days.  Then  he  looked  into 
her  face,  stared,  and  stared  again.  Stared  so 
long  that  Katharine  put  her  hand  to  it  wondering 
what  was  amiss.  When  he  turned  his  gaze  aside 
he  fixed  it  on  the  chattering  river  and  became 
oblivious  to  everything  else.  Within  his  brain 
there  was  working  another  memory,  evoked  by  her 
brown  eyes ;  eyes  so  like  her  father's  that  when  she 
sometimes  looked  at  Susanna,  that  good  woman 
begged  her  turn  her  glance  away,  saying: 

"  You're  so  like  Johnny  you  give  me  the 
creeps !  " 

Susanna  was  often  getting  the  "  creeps,"  and 
Katy  wondered  if  she  had  given  them  to  this  poor 
wretch  also,  since,  though  he  had  seemed  so  anx- 
ious to  fish  a  few  moments  ago,  he  had  now 
apparently  forgotten  all  about  it.  She  gathered 
all  her  courage  and  put  out  her  hand  to  take  the 
rod. 

"  If  you  please,  mister,  I  must  be  going  now. 
Will  you  give  me  my  things  ?  " 


228     THE  BKASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  Bime  by.  Wait.  Don't  talk.  In  a  minute 
I'll  have  a  whopper." 

It  was  a  relief  to  hear  him  speak  in  such  an 
ordinary  way.  She  had  supposed  that  the  lan- 
guage of  tramps  was  something  wholly  vile.  His 
voice  was  husky,  but  that  might  be  from  illness, 
for  he  certainly  did  look  ill.  Well,  if  he  wanted 
her  to  stay  she  would  better  please  him.  He 
would  tire  of  keeping  her  there  after  awhile,  or  so 
she  hoped.  Even  a  tramp  couldn't  go  on  fishing 
forever,  and  somebody  might  come. 

He  was  really  very  skilful.  Almost  as  soon  as 
Uncle  Moses  could  have  done  so  he  had  landed  his 
first  catch  and  left  it  floundering  on  the  bank. 
Katharine  had  never  thought  about  the  cruel  side 
of  angling.  It  was  left  for  this  forlorn  creature 
to  teach  her  that  of  this  pretty  pastime  there  is 
something  else  than  lounging  beside  charming 
waterways  and  beneath  green  boughs.  Angle- 
worms might  not  suffer  much,  might  even  get 
used  to  being  tortured,  as  Montgomery  averred; 
but  how  about  that  beautiful  shining  thing  done 
to  slow  death  on  the  sward  beside  her  ?  A  new 
pity  for  this  humbler  of  God's  creatures  made  her 
forget  her  lingering  fear  of  the  man.  With  a  cry 
she  snatched  the  rod  from  his  hand,  exclaiming: 

"  You  sha'n't  do  that  any  more !  It's  wicked ! 
Oh,  the  poor,  pretty  thing !  We  have  taken  away 
its  life  and  we  can  never  give  it  back  again.  I 
feel  as  if  I  had  seen  murder  done.    I  understand 


BY   THE   OLD   STONE   BRIDGE      229 


Aunt  Eunice  now  about  the  poultry.  Oh,  it  is 
dreadful!" 

This  was  the  girl's  first  knowledge  of  killing, 
and  she  was  extreme  in  her  revulsion  as  she  was  in 
all  things.  But  her  emotion  was  a  good  thing 
because  it  recalled  her  to  the  fact  that  she  had 
something  else  to  do.  She  must  be  about  it  at 
once,  and  if  the  man  followed  or  annoyed  her  — 
why,  she  must  trust  she  could  escape  him. 

Rapidly  unfolding  the  rod,  she  was  conscious 
that  the  tramp  was  again  regarding  her  with  that 
intent  gaze  which  had  nothing  menacing  in  it, 
but  was  rather  wistful  and  sad.  lie  did  not 
resent  her  stopping  his  sport,  and,  turning  away 
from  her,  he  picked  up  the  fish  and  tossed  it  back 
into  the  water.  Then  she  went  a  few  steps  to 
where  she  had  placed  the  basket  and  drew  it  out 
from  the  alders. 

Now  his  whole  attitude  changed.  He  had  not 
suffered  greatly  from  hunger  heretofore.  Tlie  gar- 
dens and  fields  were  too  rich  just  then  with  fruits 
and  vegetables,  and  nobody  missed  a  few  potatoes 
from  the  heaps  dug,  nor  com  from  the  shocks. 
There  were  apples  galore,  and  in  some  orchards 
pears  and  even  plums.  The  stone  walls  bordering 
the  farms  were  hung  with  wild  frost-grapes, 
while  the  nut-trees  offered  their  abundance  to 
whomsoever  would  accept.  Beneath  these  same 
trees  there  was  game  to  be  ensnared  even  by  one 
who  carried  no  gun,   and  as  for  poultry-yards, 


230     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

nearly  every  householder  had  one.  Nobody,  not 
even  a  tramp,  need  go  hungry  on  that  countryside, 
unless  his  scruples  prevented  him  from  helping 
himself. 

This  particular  tramp  had  no  scruples  of  that 
sort  whatever.  As  Katharine  picked  up  her  heavy 
basket,  he  was  upon  his  feet  and  relieved  her  of  the 
burden  at  once.  She  tried  to  retain  her  hold  of  the 
handle,  but  was  no  match  for  him  in  strength, 
and  had  to  watch  him  drop  down  upon  the  bank, 
tear  apart  the  two  halves  of  the  cover,  and  explore 
the  contents. 

She  made  one  effort  to  rescue  Susanna's  good 
things  from  this  "  thief,"  as  she  now  knew  him  to 
be,  but  he  flimg  her  hands  aside  so  rudely  he 
hurt  them ;  and  when  she  cried  to  him :  "  You 
mustn't!  You  must  not  touch  those  things,  they 
aren't  mine !  "  he  did  not  notice  her. 

Already  one  pumpkin  pie  was  half -devoured. 
Uncooked  food  from  the  fields  may,  indeed,  pre- 
vent starvation,  but  here  was  luxury.  If  "  the 
proof  of  the  pudding  is  in  the  eating,"  Susanna 
Sprigg  should  have  been  highly  flattered.  Katha- 
rine had  never  seen  anybody  eat  as  this  man  did. 
Before  she  could  say,  "  Well,  you  sha'n't  have 
the  basket,  even  if  you  do  steal  the  things  from 
it !  "  the  first  pie  had  wholly  gone.  He  tried  a 
little  variety:  broke  the  brown  loaf  in  two,  and, 
unrolling  the  pat  of  butter,  generously  smeared  it, 
using  his  dirty  hands  for  knife. 


"ALREADY   ONE    PUMPKIN    PIE   WAS    HALF  -  DEVOURED  " 


BY   THE   OLD    STONE   BRIDGE      231 

This  was  wretchedly  disgusting  but  —  fasci- 
nating. It  reminded  the  young  Baltimorean  of 
feeding-time  at  the  Zoo.  She  also  dropped  upon 
the  sward  to  watch,  and  to  recover  her  basket 
when  he  should  have  done  with  its  contents. 

He  left  none  of  them.  The  honey  followed  the 
bread  and  butter,  and  the  jell-roll  followed  the 
honey.  Then  he  returned  to  his  first  delight  and 
finished  the  second  pie.  By  this  time  satiety. 
Full  fed  and  rested  he  crawled  back  among  the 
alders  and  lay  down  to  sleep.  Crawled  so  far  and 
so  deep  among  them  that  even  the  watching  girl 
could  scarcely  see  him. 

But  she  had  no  desire  left  for  further  observa- 
tion. He  had  proved  himself  a  harmless  buga- 
boo, and  she  would  not  be  afraid  of  him,  meet 
him  where  she  might  —  so  she  felt  then. 

Yet  there  remained  some  ugly  facts  to  be  dealt 
with.  One,  the  empty  cupboard  at  the  Mansion, 
always  so  faithfully  replenished  for  the  Sabbath 
by  the  untiring  care  of  Aunt  Eunice.  One,  the 
cherished  rod  that  had  snapped  asunder  as  she 
forced  it  from  the  tramp's  grasp.  And  one  — 
the  well-deserved  anger  of  the  Widow  Susanna 
Sprigg. 

She  gathered  what  comfort  she  could,  hoping 
against  hope  that  for  once  Madam  Sturtevant  had 
made  provision  for  her  own  Sabbath  feasts;  and 
that,  though  the  rod  might  be  broken,  and  because 
of  its  association  not  to  be  replaced,  she  could  buy 


232     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

another  even  better.  She  had  ten  dollars  of  her 
own,  her  very  own.  It  was  as  yet  unbroken  even 
if  in  her  intention  she  had  already  expended  it 
on  many,  many  things.  But  there  remained  that 
other  formidable  fact  —  the  Widow  Sprigg. 

How  meet  her  inquiring  glances  ?  How  con- 
vince her  that  she  was  still  worthy  of  trust  who 
had  proved  herself  unworthy?  How  endure  the 
torrent  of  indignation,  certain  to  be  let  loose  upon 
her  when  she  reappeared  at  the  kitchen  door  ? 

Well,  she  had  the  basket !  That  was  yet  another 
and  comforting  fact.  She  hugged  it  close  as  she 
entered  the  back  yard  where  the  housekeeper  was 
washing  the  stone  path  with  a  vigor  as  great  as 
if  it  were  the  beginning  and  not  the  end  of  the 
day.  As  the  gate-latch  clicked  Susanna  looked  up, 
and  Katharine  saw  that  she  was  "  just  as  cross 
as  she  always  is  on  Saturday  afternoon." 

"  My  suz !     You  back  a'ready  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Susanna." 

"  Well,  what  you  so  mealy-mouthed  about  ? 
You  ain't  nigh  so  peart  and  hop-skippin'  as  you 
was  when  you  started.  Didn't  you  get  a  good 
welcome  to  the  Mansion  ?  Wasn't  Madam  to 
home  ?  Don't  squeeze  that  basket  so  tight. 
Eunice  won't  admire  to  have  it  smashed." 

"  I  won't  smash  it,  Susanna." 

Katharine  wondered  why  she  should  be  so 
afraid  of  this  sharp-tongued  woman  when  she 
hadn't    been    really    afraid    of    the    disreputable 


BY   THE   OLD   STONE   BEIDGE      233 

tramp.  She  wondered  why  she  couldn't  burst  forth 
with  her  story,  which  certainly  was  a  strange  one, 
as  sure  of  sympathy  here  as  she  would  have  been 
with  Aunt  Eunice.  Perhaps  that  dear,  if  digni- 
fied, old  lady  had  returned,  and  if  so  she  would 
go  straight  to  her. 

"  Has  aunty  come,  Widow  Sprigg  ?  " 

"No.  She  hain't.  Nor  likely  to.  Word's 
come,  though,  that  we  needn't  look  for  her  till  we 
see  her.  That  sick  woman  is  so  glad  to  have  her 
she's  goin'  to  keep  her  over  Sabbath,  an'  I  warn 
you,  what  with  Moses  on  my  hands  an'  the  hull 
house  to  look  after,  I  want  no  monkey-shines  from 
you.  Well,  what  did  Madam  say?  Didn't  she 
think  my  butter  was  as  good  as  hers?  Hey? 
Wha;t?" 

Hope  died  in  Katharine's  breast.  At  first  she 
had  loved  Susanna  best,  better  than  Miss  Mait- 
land.    Now,  for  just  one  look  into  Eunice's  face ! 

But  she  wouldn't  be  a  coward.  Feeling  that 
she  had  done  something  very  wrong,  yet  not  know- 
ing how  she  could  have  helped  it,  she  looked 
straight  into  Susanna's  eyes,   and  answered: 

"  I  haven't  seen  Madam  Sturtevant.  I  didn't 
go  there." 

Over  the  rest  of  that  interview  it  is  well  to  draw 
a  veil. 


CHAPTEK   XVI. 

THE    COTTAGE    IN    THE    WOOD 

After  having  cried  herself  to  sleep  in  the 
sitting-room  chamber,  feeling  very  lonely  and 
forlorn  because  Aunt  Eunice  was  not  in  her  own 
adjoining  room,  Katharine  awoke  to  find  another 
beautiful  day  gladdening  the  world  and  herself 
as  well.  Who  could  be  unhappy  with  such  sun- 
light shining  through  such  golden  maples,  un- 
derneath a  sky  so  blue  ? 

"  Every  day  is  a  fresh  beginning, 
Every  morn  is  the  world  made  new," 

sang  the  girl,  springing  from  bed  and  running 
to  her  bath;  a  daily  habit  which  surprised  and 
pleased  both  Miss  Maitland  and  the  housekeeper, 
accustomed  as  they  were  to  the  rebellion  of  young 
Marsdenites  to  even  a  weekly  tubbing.  A  habit 
which  had  done  much  to  win  Eunice's  favor 
toward  the  "  second  Mrs.  John,"  and  between 
whom  and  herself  now  existed  a  friendly  and 
frequent  correspondence.  "  She  is  a  good  woman, 
234 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE   WOOD      235 

intensely  practical ;  and  Katharine  is  a  good 
child,  intensely  romantic;  and  not  all  good 
people  may  live  comfortably  together.  But  there 
is  no  '  cruel  stepmother '  in  her,  and  I  mean  to 
invite  her  and  the  little  Snowballs  out  to  visit 
us  next  summer.  It  shall  not  be  my  fault  if  there 
does  not  yet  grow  the  closest  affection  between 
Johnny's  chosen  wife  and  Johnny's  daughter," 
had  remarked  the  mistress  of  The  Maples,  some 
time  before. 

To  which  Susanna  had  pertinently  replied: 

"  Well,  next  summer  ain't  tetched  yet,  an'  we 
may  all  be  in  our  graves  before  that  time." 

"  Very  true,  my  friend,  though  I  don't  expect 
to  be  in  mine,"  answered  Eunice,  cheerfully,  and 
wisely  changed  the  subject,  though  not  her  inten- 
tion. 

Not  only  had  Katharine  forgotten  her  unhappi- 
ness  of  the  night  before,  but  Susanna  had  also 
rested  and  recovered  her  good  nature.  She  felt 
that  it  would  never  do  for  an  old  lady  like  herself 
to  apologize  to  a  child  for  the  hard  words  spoken 
"  in  the  way  of  discipline,"  but  now  that  she  had 
had  time  to  think  it  over  she  did  not  see  how 
Katy  had  been  so  greatly  to  blame.  Besides,  she 
was  just  wild  to  ask  questions  concerning  the 
tramp,  and  privately  looked  upon  the  little  girl 
as  a  very  heroine  for  bravery,  in  that  she  had 
neither  fainted  nor  been  greatly  afraid  during 
her  interview  with  the  wanderer. 


236     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

Katy  had  been  given  a  bread  and  milk  supper 
and  sent  to  her  room,  feeling  herself  in  disgrace. 
She  had  not  even  been  allowed  to  visit  Moses  and 
offer  her  apologies  for  her  rudeness  to  him;  so 
that  if  it  had  not  been  a  wholly  "  black  "  Satur- 
day, it  had  been  a  very  dark  Saturday  evening. 

But  Saturday  was  past,  a  beautiful  Lord's  Day 
was  blessing  His  earth,  and  it  was  not  for  His 
children  to  keep  offence  with  one  another. 

As  her  own  overture  to  a  Sabbath  peace,  Su- 
sanna went  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs  and  called, 
in  her  cheerf ullest  voice : 

"  Time  to  get  up,  '  Kitty  Keehoty  '  !  " 

"  Oh,  yes !  Good  morning,  Susanna !  I've  been 
up  ever  so  long  —  much  as  ten  minutes,  I  guess." 

"  Flannel  cakes  an'  maple  syrup  for  breakfast," 
returned  the  housekeeper,  as  a  parting  salute,  and 
really  very  happy  to  have  all  clouds  blown  free 
of  the  domestic  sky. 

Moses  had  already  breakfasted,  and  had  by  this 
time  become  so  far  accustomed  to  his  hard  posi- 
tion on  the  cot  that  he  had  ceased  to  grumble  at 
it.  That  is,  he  had  not  grumbled  on  that  morn- 
ing, and  had  forgotten  his  growls  of  yesterday. 
He  was  ready  with  a  smile  for  his  little  nurse 
when  she  came  in  with  the  new  copy  of  the 
Chronicle^  to  read  him  a  few  paragraphs  while 
Susanna  fried  the  cakes.  Later,  she  brought 
a  big  bunch  of  chrysanthemums  and  put  them  on 
his  bureau;    then  tidied  the  room  even  beyond 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE   WOOD      237 

its  usual  order,  since  on  Sundays,  when  his  neigh- 
bors had  leisure,  the  invalid  was  sure  to  have  many 
visitors. 

Indeed,  as  Susanna  informed  Katharine  at 
breakfast,  Deacon  Meakin  himself  was  coming 
to  sit  the  whole  afternoon  with  his  afflicted  prede- 
cessor. Kate,  herself,  was  to  go  alone  to  church 
in  the  morning,  and  remember  that  she  was  to 
behave  exactly  as  if  Eunice  were  beside  her.  In 
the  afternoon,  during  the  deacon's  temporary 
charge  of  the  house,  Susanna  would  take  Katha- 
rine on  that  long  promised  walk  to  "  my  cottage." 

"  I've  been  terr'ble  anxious  'bout  it  ever  senee 
that  tramp  come  to  town,  an'  now  sence  you've 
seen  an'  talked  with  him,  an'  I  know  that  he's 
runnin'  'round  loose  still,  I  must  go  take  a  look. 
That's  the  worst  o'  prope'ty,  it's  a  dreadful  care." 

"  But  it  must  be  just  delightful  to  own  such  a 
cute  little  cottage  as  yours,  all  vines  and  trees  —  " 

"  The  chimbley  smoked,"  interjected  the  widow, 
feeling  free  to  disparage  her  own  "  prope'ty," 
though  she  would  have  resented  such  a  remark 
from  another. 

"  That  could  be  fixed,  I  reckon.  When  I  saw  it 
from  the  stage,  coming,  I  thought  it  was  just  like 
a  doll-house,  or  a  child's  playhouse." 

"  Huh !  You  did,  did  you  ?  Well,  let  me  tell 
you,  Katharine  Maitland,  that  house  is  a  good  one. 
Spriggs,  he  had  it  built  first-class,  with  a  room 
finished  off  in  the  roof  —  attic,   he  called   it  — 


238  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

three  good  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  white- 
painted  clapboards  an'  reg'lar  blinds,  green  blinds 
with  slats  turnin'  easy  as  nothin'.  Not  like  the 
old-fashioned  wooden  shutters,  so  clumsy  't  you 
can't  see  out  to  tell  who's  comin'  along  the  road 
without  openin'  the  hull  concern.  And  it  has  as 
good  a  system  of  water  as  Squire  Pettijohn's, 
only  not  so  big.  Sprigg,  he  bricked  it  all  up, 
hauled  the  bricks  himself  clean  in  from  the  county 
town,  an'  it's  got  a  manhole  'twill  let  ary  man 
down  it  that  wants  to  go.  My  house  may  not  be 
as  big  as  the  moon,  but  it's  got  as  good  a  system 
of  water  as  Eunice's  even." 

Katharine's  eyes  twinkled.  Until  she  came  to 
Marsden  she  had  never  heard  of  a  cistern ;  all  the 
water  used  in  her  city  home  had  been  piped  into  it 
from  a  reservoir,  which  supplied  all  the  other 
houses  also;  but  she  had  learned  what  Susanna 
meant  by  "  system,"  because  the  Turners  had  had 
theirs  cleaned  out  only  the  week  before. 

"  What's  the  '  manhole,'  Susanna  ?  " 

"  My  suz !  You  do  ask  the  ridicylousest  ques- 
tions. It's  a  hole  left  in  the  top  for  folks  to  go 
down  into  it,  if  they  want  to." 

"  Well,  I  shouldn't  think  they'd  ever  want  to. 
And  the  Turners'  manhole  must  be  very  small, 
smaller  than  yours,  maybe;  because  they  sent 
Bob  down  to  clean  it,  and  he  got  stuck  coming 
out.  His  mother  was  scared  almost  into  a  fit,  and 
the   girls   cried   and   Mr.    Turner  —  said   things. 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE   WOOD      239 

He  told  Bob  if  he  ever  got  him  out  alive  he'd 
teach  him  to  live  on  light  rations  for  awhile. 
Bob's  so  fat,  you  know.  It  was  so  funny,  and  yet 
I  was  frightened,  too.  I  suppose  if  he  had  stuck 
too  tight  they'd  have  had  to  break  the  bricks  away, 
but  he  squeezed  through  all  right.  He  hasn't 
spoken  to  me  since,  though.  Just  because  I 
laughed." 

"  My  suz,  Kitty !  if  you  ain't  the  greatest  one 
for  bein'  everywhere  't  anything's  goin'  on.  You 
hain't  been  here  but  a  month,  yet  you  know  more 
folks,  been  into  more  houses,  seems  if,  than  I 
have,  who've  lived  here  all  my  life.  An'  the  idee ! 
Tearin'  away  good  bricks  just  to  get  a  wuthless  boy 
out,  like  that  Bob.  I  cal'late  his  pa  would  ha' 
thought  twice  'fore  it  come  to  that.  He'd  have 
made  the  young  one  scrouge  himself  up  dreadful 
narrow  an'  wriggle  himself  free,  somehow.  But 
there.  No  use  worryin'  about  my  system,  'cause 
I  had  the  leader-pipe  turned  t'other  way  so  no 
rain  could  run  into  it.  It's  as  dry  as  a  floor  now. 
My  suz !  What  a  long  walk  it  is,  an'  how  warm 
it  does  keep.  I  never  knowed  such  a  fall,  no 
weather  fit  for  killin'  nor  nothin',  but  just  like 
midsummer,"  bewailed  Susanna,  lagging  on  the 
long  woodland  path. 

"  I  never  knew  such  a  fall,  either.  I  never 
dreamed  that  the  world  could  be  so  lovely.  I  have 
only  been  in  the  country  a  fortnight  at  a  time  in 
August,  until  I  came  to  Marsden,  but  I  love  it,  I 


240     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

love  it!  And  I  think  you're  dressed  too  warm. 
What  made  you  put  on  that  heavy  wool  gown  and 
shawl  ?  And  a  veil,  too.  I  should  tliink  you'd 
roast,  and  your  face  is  the  color  of  boiled  lobster," 
said  Katharine,  with  hapless  frankness. 

Their  talk  had  been  along  the  way,  and  their 
goal  was  already  in  sight  through  the  trees.  Poor 
Susanna  had  scarcely  breath  to  retort,  but  man- 
aged to  say: 

"  Ain't  it  the  time  o'  year  to  put  on  thick 
clothes?  an'  am  I  to  blame  if  the  weather  don't 
know  its  own  business  ?  " 

Then,  for  a  peace-offering,  Katharine  handed 
her  companion  a  beautiful  fern,  which  the  widow 
tossed  aside  contemptuously,  with: 

"  Huh !  What  do  I  want  with  a  brake  ?  Eu- 
nice, she  litters  the  house  with  'em  bad  enough. 
I  ain't  a-goin'  to  add  to  the  muss.  Well,  here  we 
be,  an'  there's  the  key.  I've  come  here  alone  time 
an'  time  again  an'  never  felt  the  creeps  a-doin' 
it  afore  to-day.  But  —  my  suz!  I  wouldn't  ha' 
come  now  without  you  to  keep  me  comp'ny,  not  for 
anything." 

"  That's  flattering !  Am  I  so  brave,  then  ?  " 
asked  the  girl,  giving  the  housekeeper  a  sudden 
little  hug. 

"  Yes,  you  be.  But,  my  suz !  You  needn't 
knock  my  bunnit  off  with  your  foolishness.  Seems 
if  this  key's  gettin'  rusty,  or  else  —  can't  be  the 
door's  unlocked,  can  it  ?  " 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE   WOOD      241 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know.  I  was  never  here  be- 
fore." Then,  as  the  door  opened,  sniffing  a  little 
at  the  musty  odor  incident  to  a  tightly  closed 
apartment :  "  Whew  !  It  needs  airing,  anyway. 
Let's  throw  up  all  the  sashes  and  set  the  blinds 
wide,  then  it  will  be  the  sweetest  little  cottage 
in  the  world." 

"  Well,  you  may.  And  when  youVe  done  these 
down  here,  you  might  —  you  might  go  up  attic 
and  open  that  winder,  too.  It's  there  I've  got  my 
things  stored  that  I've  been  layin'  out  to  show  you, 
Boon's  I  could.  Me  an'  Moses  an'  Eunice  is  all 
a-gettin'  old.  It's  time  somebody  younger  an' 
likelier  to  live  longer  should  know.  This  walk 
to-day  tells  me  'at  I  ain't  so  spry  as  I  used  to  be. 
No  tellin',  no  tellin'.  We're  here  now,  an'  there 
some  other  time,  an'  life's  a  shadder,  a  shadder," 
ruminated  the  widow,  sitting  down  on  the  door- 
step, and  not  anxious,  apparently,  to  enter  the 
cottage  first. 

Which  fact  Katharine  was  quick  to  observe 
and  comment  upon,  with  a  laugh :  "  Oh,  you 
blessed  old  coward!  You're  afraid  that  tramp 
has  shut  himself  up  in  your  *  prope'ty,'  and  you'll 
come  upon  him  unawares.  You'd  '  risk '  me, 
just  as  Monty  '  risked  '  Ned  Clackett  to  climb 
the  schoolhouse  roof  after  a  ball,  not  daring  to  go 
himself.  Well,  here  goes !  You  keep  watch  with- 
out while  I  search  within." 

Susanna  laughed.     She  was  afraid,  and  owned 


242     THE  BKASS  BOUND  BOX 

it  frankly;  but  after  Katharine  had  ransacked 
the  few  rooms  thoroughly,  peeped  under  the  bed 
in  the  kitchen-bedroom,  opened  the  few  closet 
doors,  and  even  examined  the  wall  cupboard,  she 
gathered  courage  to  enter,  and  promptly  led  the 
way  up-stairs. 

The  little  home  was  plainly  furnished,  but  rep- 
resented the  romance  of  her  life  to  old  Susaima. 
Memories  of  her  youth  came  back  and  softened 
the  asperity  of  age,  her  wrinkled  face  taking 
on  gentler  lines  and  her  harsh  voice  a  tenderer 
tone.  But  to-day  she  was  in  haste.  She  felt  her- 
self needed  at  The  Maples,  even  with  the  capable 
Deacon  Meakin  left  to  "  hold  the  fort,"  as  he  ex- 
pressed it.  Going  to  a  chest  of  drawers  she 
opened  the  top  one  and  displayed  a  store  of 
blankets,  different  from  those  Katharine  had  seen. 
They  looked  like  very  coarse  and  heavy  flannel, 
and  were  yellow  with  age.  "  Them  was  part  of 
my  fittin'  out.  I  spun  an'  wove  'em  myself, 
whilst  Sprigg  an'  me  was  walkin'  out  together," 
she  explained,  carefully  peering  into  the  folds 
of  the  cloth,  in  search  of  any  vagrant  moth. 

"  Why,  how  in  the  world  could  you  do  that  ? 
I  thought  when  one  spun  and  wove  they  had  to 
have  wheels  and  looms  and  things.  How  could 
you  carry  such  about  with  you,  even  with  Sprigg, 
I  mean  Mr.  Sprigg,  to  help  ? " 

Susanna  looked  over  her  spectacles  more  hurt 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE   WOOD      243 

than  angry.  But  she  saw  only  honest  surprise 
on  the  girl's  face,  and,  after  a  pause,  explained: 

" '  Walkin'  out  together '  means  keepin' 
comp'ny;  as  men  an'  women  do  who've  promised 
to  marry  each  other." 

"  Oh,  an  engagement !  I  remember  quite  well, 
too  well,  when  papa  and  Mrs.  Snowball  '  walked 
out  together.'  It  quite  did  away  with  the  delight- 
ful '  walkin'  out '  I  had  always  had  with  him 
before  that  time." 

"  Well,  Katy,  be  sure  if  Johnny  picked  her  out 
she  was  the  right  one,  an'  me  an'  Eunice  hopes  to 
see  the  pair  of  ye  good  friends  yet.  We're  layin' 
out  to  have  all  them  little  Snowballs  down  here, 
or  up  here,  next  summer,  if  we  live  to  see  another 
summer,  an'  make  up  our  own  minds  as  to  how 
things  is.    We've  settled  that." 

Which  shows  that  even  strong-minded  women 
like  Susanna  may  sometimes  change  their  minds; 
also  lay  claim  to  ideas  not  originally  their  own. 
But  the  effect  upon  Katharine  was  to  sober  her 
completely,  and,  oddly  enough,  make  her  a  bit 
homesick  for  the  old  life  and  the  noisy  little 
brothers.  She  fell  to  thinking  about  them  so  ear- 
nestly that  she  scarcely  heard  what  else  the  widow 
was  saying,  until  she  was  touched  upon  the  arm, 
and  bidden: 

"  Now,  look  sharp  an'  remember.  Here  'tis, 
my  shroud  an'  all  goes  with  it." 

"  Your  —  w-h-a-t  ?  "  gasped  Katharine. 


244  THE  BRASS  BOUND   BOX 

Susanna  again  looked  her  surprise,  but  she  was 
perfectly  calm,  even  cheerfully  interested ;  and,  to 
enlighten  the  other's  ignorance,  patiently  ex- 
plained. 

"  I  said  my  shroud,  that  I  am  to  be  wropped  in 
when  I'm  buried.  I  made  it  years  ago,  an'  styles 
has  changed  some,  I  hear.  But  this  is  good,  an' 
'11  be  easy  for  'em  that  does  it  to  put  on  me.  It's 
keepin'  real  well,  nice  an'  white.  Here's  the 
suit  of  underclothes  goes  with  it,  all  new,  white 
stockin's  —  loose  an'  roomy,  an'  pins  an'  needles 
an'  thread  —  not  a  thing  wantin',  so  fur  as  I 
know.  Why,  child,  what  ails  you  ?  You  look  as 
if  you  had  seen  a  ghost." 

Poor  Katharine  was  so  shocked  by  this  revela- 
tion which  the  other  made  so  calmly,  that  she  had 
turned  quite  white,  and  found  some  difficulty  to 
control  her  voice,  as  she  returned : 

"  It's  so  —  so  horrible,  so  ghastly !  Right  here 
in  all  this  glory  of  life  to  be  anticipating  the 
grave !  Give  the  dreadful  things  to  me.  I  hate 
to  touch  them,  but  I'll  make  myself.  I'll  carry 
them  right  down  into  the  kitchen  and  make  a  fire 
in  the  stove  and  burn  them  up,  up,  up !  Oh, 
Susanna !  how  could  you  ?  " 

The  old  housekeeper  was  in  her  own  turn  as 
genuinely  surprised.  In  many  a  household  she 
knew  just  such  provision  for  a  sad  day  had  been 
made.  She  had  even  once  assisted  at  a  "  bee," 
where  several  women  had  assembled  to  prepare 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE   WOOD      245 

a  burial  garment  for  an  old,  bedridden  neighbor, 
who,  less  "  forehanded "  than  Marsdenites  in 
general,  had  neglected  to  provide  one  for  herself. 
The  careless  creature  was  living  yet,  and  likely 
to  outlive  many  a  stronger  woman,  but  that  didn't 
matter.  However,  such  ignorance  as  Katharine's 
did  not  surprise  her  so  much  as  it  would  have 
done  had  the  child's  "  raising  "  been  in  the  more 
favored  environment  she  had  herself  enjoyed. 
Of  course,  she  did  not  yield  her  treasures  to  the 
destruction  suggested.  She  merely  closed  that 
drawer  and  opened  another ;  and  here,  indeed,  her 
whole  bearing  changed.  Uncovering  a  big  paste- 
board box,  she  showed  a  quantity  of  little  gar- 
ments, oddly  fashioned,  but  beautifully  preserved, 
the  very  folds  in  which  they  had  been  laid  away 
still  crisp  and  fresh. 

Over  and  over  the  time-yellowed  muslin  her 
work-knotted  fingers  passed  and  repassed.  Her 
touch  was  the  touch  of  a  mother  upon  her  first- 
born, and  the  years  that  had  been  between  the  day 
of  his  coming  and  this  were  forgotten. 

Katharine  watching,  understood.  Her  sym- 
pathy brought  a  moisture  to  her  own  eyes,  which 
now  regarded  the  childless  old  woman  in  a  new 
and  reverent  light.  Never  again  would  Susanna 
be  just  the  same  to  her  young  housemate  that  she 
had  been.  The  girl  was  learning  life.  Yesterday 
her  lesson  —  that  not  all  of  God's  vagrants  are 


246    THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

vile ;  to-day  —  that  all  sharp-tongued  women  are 
not  viragoes. 

After  a  time,  said  the  widow,  simply :  "  Them 
was  any  baby's,"  and  softly  closed  the  drawer. 

They  were  well  on  the  way  home  when  Susanna 
suddenly  exclaimed: 

"  My  suz !  Ever  see  such  a  simpleton  ?  I  clean 
forgot  to  lock  the  door;  an'  that  kitchen-bedroom 
winder,  I  doubt  that  you  went  near  it." 

"  No,  I  didn't.  I  forgot,  too.  Never  mind, 
you  sit  here  and  rest.  I'll  run  back  and  fasten  the 
whole  house,  and  won't  be  long.  Or  you  go  on 
toward  home  and  I'll  overtake  you." 

"  Sure  you  just  as  lief  ?  Well,  I  don't  s'pose 
you  would  be  afraid  now,  after  I've  been  there 
with  ye  to  show  you  there  wasn't  nothin'  nor 
nobody  there,  an'  I  'low  I'd  ought  to  be  back  soon's 
I  can,"  responded  the  housekeeper. 

"  Afraid  ?  Why,  it  was  you  yourself  was 
afraid,  you  dear  old  make-believe!  But  go  on, 
just  the  same.  I'll  make  haste,"  cried  Kate, 
laughing  at  the  other's  altered  mind,  and  imme- 
diately darting  backward  through  the  forest 
toward  the  cottage. 

The  Widow  Sprigg  walked  forward,  slowly; 
pausing  here  to  pick  up  a  nut,  or  there  to  examine 
a  tree  which  she  would  tell  Eunice  might  better 
be  felled.  As  she  walked  she  became  uneasy, 
feeling  that  she  had  really  imposed  an  unpleasant, 
possibly  perilous,  task  upon  the  girl  she  scolded  so 


THE   COTTAGE   IN   THE  WOOD      247 

freely  yet  already  loved  so  dearly.  Gathering  a 
sprig  of  wintergreen  she  chewed  it  thoughtfully, 
and  scarcely  knew  when  she  turned  back  to  retrace 
her  own  steps  to  the  cottage  and  learn  what  had 
befallen  Katharine,  who  surely  should  have  been 
in  sight  long  before. 

She  came,  at  last,  breathless  and  excited,  catch- 
ing the  widow's  ann  and  dragging  her  farther 
into  the  wood,  but  saying  nothing  save  that  im- 
perative :  "  Come !  Oh,  come  quick !  Quick ! 
We  may  be  too  late !  " 

Perforce  the  other  "  came,"  and  there,  on  her 
kitchen-bedroom  bed,  lay  Marsden's  "  tramp," 
seemingly  sick  unto  death. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE 

If  Susanna  could  ever  have  been  "  knocked 
down  with  a  feather,"  as  she  often  averred,  she 
might  have  been  then. 

Indignation,  consternation,  amazement,  all  the 
emotions  which  have  to  be  expressed  in  polysyl- 
lables, pictured  themselves  on  her  countenance 
as  she  paused  on  the  bedroom  threshold  and  looked 
at  the  intruder  over  her  spectacles,  through  them, 
and  below  thettn.  He  lay  face  down  upon  the 
pillows,  his  dirty  boots  reposing  on  her  choicest 
log-cabin  quilt,  and  his  groans  fairly  chilling  the 
blood  even  in  her  veins,  used  though  she  was  to 
the  habits  of  men  in  illness.  Moses,  in  his  gtoan- 
iest  days,  had  rarely  equalled  this. 

After  the  moment's  pause  her  mind  worked 
quickly,  and  she  expressed  it  in  words,  spoken 
more  to  herself  than  to  Kate,  close  beside  her. 

"  He  mustn't  lie  there,   that  way,  with  them 

filthy  old  shoes  on.     He  acts  as  if  he  was  at  the 

p'int  o'  death,  though  folks  a-dyin'  don't  gen'ally 

caterwaul  like  that.     I  bet  I  know  what  ails  him ! 

248 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   249 

It's  them  pies  an'  things  he  stole!  If  'tis,  I'm 
glad  of  it,  serves  him  right !  "  she  finished,  tri- 
umphantly, and  in  her  satisfaction  went  so  far  as 
to  approach  the  bed  and  shake  the  man's  shoulder. 

At  first  he  paid  no  attention  to  her,  and  his 
groans  did  not  cease,  though  they  became  rather 
intermittent^  as  if  the  paroxysms  of  pain  were 
less  frequent.  Finally,  her  voice,  now  pitched 
to  its  shrillest,  penetrated  his  consciousness,  and 
at  her  question :  "  What's  the  matter  with  ye  ? 
Got  the  colic  ? "  he  turned  upon  his  side  and  his 
face  was  revealed. 

Then,  indeed,  did  Susanna's  countenance  un- 
dergo a  more  wonderful  change.  All  the  emotions 
which  had  earlier  crossed  it  concentrated  in  one 
prolonged  stare,  while  she  felt  her  strength  ooz- 
ing from  her  till  she  knew  she  should  fall.  Her 
hand  left  the  stranger's  shoulder  and  dropped 
limply  to  her  side,  her  jaw  fell,  and  she  would 
have  sunk  down  upon  the  floor  had  not  Katha- 
rine slipped  a  chair  forward  to  receive  her.  Upon 
this  she  settled,  still  staring  and  speechless;  and 
as  if  he,  too,  were  profoundly  moved,  the  tramp 
ceased  groaning  altogether  and  fixed  his  burning 
gaze  on  her.  So  they  remained,  and  for  so  long, 
that  Kate  grew  frantic,  and  begged : 

"  Oh,  Susanna !  what  is  wrong  ?  Why  do  you 
look  at  him  like  that  ?  Why  does  he  look  at  you  ? 
Is  he  dying  ?  Do  you  know  him  ?  Does  he  know 
you?     Can't  we  do  something  for  him?     It's  so 


250     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

dreadful  to  see  anybody  suffer.  Even  he,  poor 
fellow,  who  —  " 

The  Widow  Sprigg  held  up  a  shaking  hand 
protesting  against  this  volley  of  questions  and 
answering  none.  But  after  a  little  time  the 
woman  in  her  got  the  better  of  the  judge,  and, 
rising,  she  went  to  the  wall  cupboard  and  took 
from  it  a  bottle  containing  brown  fluid  and  plainly 
labelled,  "  Cholera  Mixture.  Poison."  Pouring 
a  generous  dose  into  a  glass,  she  diluted  it  with 
water  and  was  returning  to  the  bed  when  Katha- 
rine caught  her  hand  to  stay  it,  crying : 

"  Why,  Susanna !  How  dare  you  ?  That's 
marked  poison !  " 

The  widow  shook  the  girl's  hand  off,  calmly 
replying : 

"  My  suz !  I  guess  I  know  what  I'm  about. 
That  '  cholera  mixture  '  's  one  the  old  doctor's 
own  prescriptions,  an'  I've  give  more  of  it  to  more 
folks  'an  you  could  shake  a  stick  at.  It's  marked 
'  poison '  so's  to  keep  childern  like  you  from' 
meddlin'  with  it.  A  dose  of  it  won't  hurt  nobody, 
an'  if  his  malady  is  the  sort  I  cal'late,  I'm 
treatin'  him  like  the  Good  Samaritan  would  on 
the  Sabbath  Day.  I've  made  it  a  powerful  dose, 
an'  I  'low  it'll  settle  his  hash  one  way  or  other. 
But  I  hate  to  touch  him.     I  certainly  do." 

A  last  faint  moan  issued  from  the  sufferer,  and 
his  eyes  turned  upon  the  girl.  He  looked  so  wan 
and  so  forlorn  that  her  own  natural  repugnance 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   251 

left  her,  and  she  caught  the  medicine-glass  from 
Susanna  to  present  it  to  the  sick  man's  lips.  He 
opened  them  and  drank  obediently,  even  smacking 
his  lips  over  the  fiery  mixture,  and  Kate,  having 
finished  her  task,  hastily  withdrew  to  the  outer 
room. 

But  what  had  come  over  the  Widow  Sprigg? 
Her  whole  manner  had  changed.  Fear  seemed  to 
have  left  her  and  a  stem  determination  taken  its 
place.  Katharine  could  only  observe,  wondering, 
as  the  mistress  of  the  cottage  caught  up  a  pail,  and 
going  to  the  well  drew  it  full  several  times,  throw- 
ing out  all  but  the  last  pailful,  which  she  brought 
back  into  the  house  and  set  on  a  table  in  the  bed- 
room. Beside  it  she  placed  a  dipper,  and  ob- 
served : 

"  That  water's  all  right.  Moses,  he  had  the 
well  cleaned  out  for  me  only  last  month.  We 
always  do  do  it  twicet  a  year,  lest  somebody  comes 
along  an'  drinks  it  stale.  More'n  that,  the  well's 
fed  by  a  spring,  runnin'  in  an'  out,  so  really  don't 
need  any  cleanin',  but  —  " 

Such  solicitude  on  account  of  that  detested 
tramp!  It  was  amazing.  Yet  her  next  pro- 
cedure was  even  more  so.  Going  up-stairs,  she 
looked  that  the  window  was  shut,  and  the  nail, 
its  only  fastening,  put  in  above  the  lower  sash. 
Anybody  inside  could  have  opened  it,  of  course, 
but  that  did  not  occur  to  her.  Each  of  the  win- 
dows was  thus  treated,  and,  beckoning  to  Katha- 


252     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

rine,  she  led  the  way  out-doors.  The  door  was 
locked  on  the  outside  and  Susanna  started  home- 
ward. She  was  no  longer  a  weary  or  a  sad-faced 
woman.  She  was  alert,  silent,  but  unmistakably 
cheerful. 

Kate  kept  close  pace  with  the  now  swift  steps 
of  the  housekeeper,  and  finally  ventured  to  ask: 
"  Who  is  he  ?  " 

"  We  may  not  all  hope  to  be  constables,  but 
some  of  us  is  constables  without  ever  runnin'  for 
office  !  Well,  well,  well !  I  shouldn't  be  surprised 
if  the  end  o'  the  world  happens  along  now,  any 
time,"  said  Susanna,  irrelevantly,  and  fell  into 
such  a  brown  study  that  Katy  dared  not  interrupt 
her,  and  the  rest  of  the  way  home  was  passed  in 
silence. 

The  deacon  was  waiting  restlessly.  He  had  not 
liked  to  desert  his  post  and  leave  the  disabled 
Moses  alone  in  the  house.  Neither  had  he  liked 
to  lose  his  Sunday  afternoon  nap,  well-earned  re- 
freshment of  a  diligent  man.  One.  other  thing  he 
had  not  liked :  Moses'  flat  refusal  to  discuss  their 
employer's  affairs.  This  had  led  to  other  con- 
troversies, and  two  disgruntled  men  were  ready 
to  greet  the  tardy  wanderers. 

"  Hm-m.  Thought  you  never  was  a-comin' 
back.  That's  all  the  sense  a  silly  woman  has; 
let  her  get  off  grounds  an'  she  don't  know  when 
to  step  on  to  'em  again.  The  deacon,  he's  been 
purty    patient,    but  —  I    guess    we'll    be    better 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   253 

friends  if  we  part  for  a  spell  now,"  was  Moses' 
greeting;  and,  instead  of  resenting  it,  Susanna 
said  never  a  word. 

In  silence  she  brought  him  his  cup  of  beef  tea. 
In  silence  she  went  out  and  fed  the  poultry ;  came 
in  and  gave  Sir  Philip  his  bowl  of  milk  and 
Punch  his  plate  of  scraps.  She  had  long  since 
taken  the  feeding  of  both  animals  upon  herself, 
declaring,  with  some  show  of  truth,  that  they 
did  not  dare  "  muss  around  "  for  her  as  they  did 
for  Eunice  or  Kate. 

Till  it  was  supper-time  she  sat  in  absolute 
silence  beside  the  sitting-room  window,  her  eyes 
fixed  upon  vacancy,  and  an  expression  of  great 
perplexity. 

Katharine  bore  this  as  long  as  she  could,  then 
stole  softly  up  to  the  hired  man's  room,  careless 
whether  he  were  asleep  or  not.  She  had  not  been 
bidden  to  secrecy,  and,  finding  him  awake,  she 
poured  out  the  story  of  the  afternoon  so  fast  that 
her  words  fairly  tripped  each  other  up.  Then 
Moses  made  her  go  back  and  tell  it  all  over  again, 
and  when  she  had  finished,  exclaimed: 

"  Beats  thunder !  A  silly  woman !  An'  me, 
a  man !  Bedrid  here,  like  an  old  block  of  wood, 
an'  her —  She  thinks  she's  arrested  somebody, 
Susanna  does !  She  thinks  she's  made  herself  into 
a  constable,  does  she?  Turned  her  house  into  a 
jail  —  an'  forgot  to  fasten  the  winders  outside  I 
Ho!    Ho!    Silly  .women !  " 


254  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

The  disappointed  old  fellow  got  as  much  enjoy- 
ment as  he  could  out  of  the  situation,  and  was 
more  than  delighted  by  thought  of  a  tramp's  shoes 
smirching  the  log-cabin  quilt.  It  served  the 
widow  right,  he  maintained,  because  she  had 
wasted  so  much  labor  on  the  thing.  "  Bought 
good  new  Merrimac  print,  she  did,  an'  then  set 
there  o'  nights  a  snip-snip-snippin'  it  up  into  little 
scraps  an'  sewin'  'em  together  again.  If  a  woman 
'11  do  that,  it's  proof  what  sort  o'  brains  she's  got." 
Then,  with  sudden  energy,  he  advised:  "Don't 
you  never  let  her  set  you  a  sewin'  patchwork, 
Kitty  Keehoty.  It's  all  on  a  piece  with  knittin' 
mittens  for  the  Hottentots  —  a  waste  of  time.  A 
waste  o'  sinful  time,  I  mean  a  sinful  waste  of  — 
Oh,  hum !  " 

She  waited  till  he  had  cooled  off  from  his  own 
vexation,  and  then  asked: 

"  Uncle  Moses,  will  you  tell  me  all  about  Mont- 
gomery's father  ?  " 

If  she  had  surprised  him  before  she  startled 
him  now.  Flashing  his  keen  old  eyes  upon  her, 
he  asked  in  return: 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  know  ?  Who  egged  you 
on  to  say  that  ?  " 

"  Nobody.  Why,  surely,  nobody  at  all.  But 
it  seems  so  queer  that  none  talk  of  him,  yet  of  his 
mother  speak  so  often  and  so  lovingly.  Aunt 
Eunice  says  she  was  a  Marsden  lady,  a  farmer's 
daughter,    and    '  as    lovely    as    a   flower.'      Even 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   255 

Madam,  who  didn't  like  her  at  first,  grew  to  be 
fond  of  her  and  to  call  her  '  my  sweet  daughter.' 
But  when  I  asked  Monty  of  his  father,  and  had 
told  him  all  about  mine,  about  everything,  about 
the  second  Mrs.  John,  the  Snowballs,  and  all  — 
he  just  said :  '  I  guess  I'll  go  hunt  old  Whitey,' 
and  off  he  went,  without  saying  '  excuse  me.'  His 
face  was  as  red  as  red,  and  there  came  a  queer 
look  in  his  eyes  as  if  —  as  if  he  was  ashamed. 
Was  his  father  a  wicked  man.   Uncle  Moses  ? " 

Quite  diverted  by  this  time  from  his  own  vexa- 
tions, the  hired  man  lay  silently  thinking  for  a 
moment.    Then  he  said : 

"  Well,  little  Kitty  Keehoty,  I  hain't  seen  that 
your  warm  heart  gets  any  colder  toward  folks 
when  they  get  into  trouble  'an  when  they  don't. 
That  tramp,  now,  that  stole  your  victuals  —  Oh, 
I  know !  I  did  know  last  night,  though  you  didn't 
know  that  I  knowed  —  " 

"  '  I  saw  Esau  kissing  Kate,  Esau  saw  that  I 
saw,'  "  quoted  this  other  Kate,  in  laughing  inter- 
ruption. 

Moses  laughed,  too,  as  he  was  glad  to  do.  He 
had  had  enough  of  gloom  and  grumble  for  that 
sweet  Lord's  Day,  now  so  near  its  close.  And 
though  the  story  he  was  going  to  tell  was  anything 
but  a  bright  one,  he  meant  to  tell  it  in  such  wise 
that  his  young  listener  should  be  the  tenderer  and 
more  compassionate  because  of  hearing  it. 

"  Well,  Keehoty,  it's  ruther  a  long  yarn.    That 


256  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

is,  it  goes  a  good  way  back,  clean  to  the  old  Squire's 
time  —  no  such  a  Squire  as  Pettijohn,  forename 
James,  mind  ye  —  but  a  good,  high-sprung,  old- 
fashioned  gentleman;  with  high-up  English 
blood  in  his  veins,  an'  a  reg'lar  English  temper 
to  balance  the  blood.  Never  did  a  dirty  trick  in 
his  life  nor  an  unjust  one  —  except  to  his  own 
and  only  son.  That  was  Monty's  father,  poor 
little  stutterin'  shaver!  Well,  along  of  his  late 
years  the  old  Squire  had  bad  feelin's  in  his  head, 
suffered  terr'ble  agony,  an'  hardly  knowed  what 
he  did  do  or  say.  He  got  a  notion  that  he  was 
goin'  to  be  robbed,  an'  used  to  carry  'round  with 
him  a  cur'ous  old  box  that  folks  said  held  his 
bonds  an'  money  an'  the  old  family  jewels  that 
had  been  brought  over  from  England  a  hunderd 
years  afore.  If  he  went  a-ridin'  —  an'  he  was  the 
splendidest  horseman  ever  seen  in  these  parts  — 
he'd  have  the  thing  on  the  saddle  afore  him.  If 
he  druv,  'twould  be  in  the  box  o'  the  carriage-seat. 
Nobody  ever  seen  the  inside  that  box,  an'  'twas 
'lowed  there  wasn't  none  could  open  it,  except  him 
an'  the  Madam." 

"  Oh !  "  gasped  Katharine,  leaning  forward, 
breathlessly  intent.  Naturally  such  close  atten- 
tion flattered  the  narrator,  who  went  on  with 
renewed  earnestness : 

"  The  old  Squire  an'  his  son  didn't  hit  it  off 
together  very  well.  Never  did  from  the  time 
Verplanck,  'Planck  he  was  called  for  short,  was 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   257 

born.  He  was  a  good  deal  like  Monty  is,  only 
more  oneasy  —  if  anybody  could  be ;  an'  from 
the  time  he  could  toddle  he  was  hand  in  glove  with 
Jim  Pettijohn's  little  tacker,  Nate.  Nate,  he 
wasn't  so  smart  as  some  folks.  Not  a  fool,  uther, 
an'  consid'able  better'n  half-witted,  but  queer  — 
queer.  He  just  worshipped  Planck  Sturtevant, 
an'  where  you  see  one  you  see  t'other,  sure.  Well, 
they  growed  up,  an'  Planck  got  married.  That 
seemed  to  'bout  break  Nate's  heart,  an'  he  got 
queerer  an'  queerer.  Old  Squire  got  queerer,  too. 
Notliin'  Verplanck  could  do  or  say  was  right  in 
his  father's  eyes ;  an'  though  he  managed  to  work 
the  farm  fairly  well,  he  never  made  any  money 
off  it,  an'  that  made  the  old  man  mad.  Planck, 
he  bore  it  patient  for  a  spell,  'cause  his  wife  — 
she  that  was  Elizabeth  Morton  from  up-moun- 
tain —  thought  the  world  an'  all  of  the  old  folks 
an'  they  o'  her.  She'd  been  raised  on  a  farm  an' 
could  an'  did  turn  her  hand  to  every  sort  o'  work, 
but  'twasn't  no  use.  She  loved  them,  but  she 
loved  her  husband  better;  an',  one  night,  after 
there'd  been  more  hard  talk  'an  common  'twixt  the 
Squire  an'  Verplanck,  there  was  three  folks 
missin'  from  Marsden  township.  They  was  some- 
thin'  else  missin',  too,  an'  that  was  the  queer 
brass  bound  box  with  all  the  Squire's  money  an' 
vallybles.  The  hired  man  told  'bout  the  box,  else 
nobody  might  ever  have  heard  that  part.  He 
was  carryin'  in  the  day's  wood  next  momin'  an' 


258     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

overheard  the  Squire  an'  the  Madam  talkin'  'bout 
it ;  him  callin'  his  son  a  '  thief,'  an'  f orbiddin' 
his  name  ever  to  be  spoke  in  that  house  again. 
She  declarin'  that  no  child  of  them  two  honest 
people  could  ever  be  a  thief.  Hot  an'  heavy  they 
had  it,  though  nobody  had  ever  heard  them  two 
quarrel  afore.  An'  right  on  top  of  that  stalks 
in  Jim  Pettijohn  —  him  that's  a  sort  o'  Squire, 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  now  —  an'  demands  his 
son.  He'd  let  the  feller  grow  up  without  good 
trainin'  or  lookin'  after  of  any  kind,  though  'twas 
needed  bad  enough.  All  Nate  did  know,  or 
the  little  he  knowed,  was  badness  an'  deviltry. 
Why,  he  used  to  go  with  your  own  pa,  Johnny, 
consid'able,  an'  'peared  to  like  him  almost  as  well 
as  he  did  Verplanck,  an'  many's  the  time  I've 
had  the  three  on  my  hands  a-fishin'.  But 
Johnny  didn't  tackle  much  to  ary  one  them 
other  boys.  He  was  all  for  trompin'  'round 
by  himself,  drawin'  pictur's  on  whatever  come 
handy,  or  lyin'  under  the  trees  a-dreamin'  the 
summer  days  through.  In  the  winter  he'd 
dream  afore  the  wood  fire  just  the  same  idle 
way,  an'  finally  he  dreamed  himself  out  o' 
Marsden  an'  run  away  to  be  an  artist.  Eu- 
nice, she  was  set  an'  determined  he  should  be  a 
minister,  else  maybe  'twouldn't  never  ha'  turned 
out  as  it  did.  But  Johnny  was  good,  good  clean 
through  to  the  core,  parson  or  artist  or  what  not; 
an'  'twasn't  o'  him  I  set  out  to  tell.    An'  I  must 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   259 

hurry  up,  anyway,  'cause  Susanna  she'll  be  in 
purty  soon,  an'  that'll  end  all  our  nice  time." 

"  Oh,  Uncle  Moses !  I  like  Susanna  better  to- 
day than  I  ever  did  before.  She  showed  me  the 
real  inside  of  herself,  and  it  isn't  half  as  crusty 
as  the  outside." 

"Huh!  What'd  she  do  to  manage  that? 
She  seems  powerful  still  an'  sot-lookin'  sence  she 
come  back  from  inspectin'  her  '  prope'ty.'  By 
the  way,  did  you  happen  to  notice  whuther  the 
slat  top  to  that  cistern  o'  hers  was  over  the  man- 
hole ?  Out  in  the  open  shed,  or  lean-to  ?  'Cause 
she's  a  great  notion  of  leavin'  it  off  to  '  air '  — 
as  if  a  cistern  that  hasn't  had  no  water  in  it  for 
fifteen  twenty  years  wasn't  dry  as  a  pipe-stem 
a'ready  or  needed  '  airin' ' !  Gen'ally,  after  she's 
been  out  there  I  take  a  look  'round  myself.  I 
wouldn't  admire  to  have  anything,  even  a  tramp, 
fall  down  that  cistern,  though  it  might  not  hurt 
'em  much,  'cause  it's  shallower  'n  it's  broad.  A 
real  good  '  system,'  I  'low,  even  if  that  everlastin' 
Sprigg  did  build  it.  But  what's  the  inside  o' 
Susanna  't  you  saw  an'  liked  ? " 

"  She  showed  me  her  baby's  things,  an'  looked 
as  sad  as  if  it  had  died  only  yesterday.  But  she 
showed  me,  too,  her  shroud  —  her  shroud!  Just 
think  of  it.  Uncle  Moses!  And  that  was  hor- 
rible." 

"  Pooh !  That's  nothin'.  Lots  of  women  has 
'em  laid  by.     Same's  some  fool-men  has  a  coffin 


260  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

built  an'  kep'  handy.  As  for  me,  I'm  goin'  to 
worry  'bout  things  only  up  till  the  day  o'  my 
death,  an'  not  a  minute  beyond.  But,  I  was  tellin' 
of  Verplanck  Sturtevant,  an'  must  finish  the 
job.  Squire,  he  had  always  given  the  cold  shoul- 
der to  Jim,  an'  despised  him  out  an'  out.  Jim 
was  crafty  an'  underhand,  Squire  was  open  an' 
above  board  —  an'  them  two  kinds  don't  mix. 
Still,  Jim  had  been  able  to  get  his  claw  on  the 
Squire's  meat,  so  to  speak;  that  is,  he'd  made 
money  himself,  lawin'  an'  grindin'  the  face  of 
them  worse  off  'an  he  was,  an'  the  Squire  needin' 
ready  cash,  to  make  some  improvements  he'd 
better  ha'  let  alone,  Jim  advanced  it  an'  Squire 
give  a  mortgage.  That  was  the  beginnin',  an' 
now,  they  say.  Petti  John  owns  about  every  acre 
of  the  old  Sturtevant  property,  an'  could  turn  the 
Madam  out  any  day.  Yet,  somehow,  he  dassent. 
Indeed,  I'd  like  to  see  the  man  could  walk  straight 
up  to  that  old  lady  an'  say :  '  Your  house  is 
mine.  Please  to  get  out.'  Out  she'd  go  at  the  first 
word ;  head  up,  back  straight  as  one  her  own  hall 
chairs,  but  a  look  in  her  eye  that  that  man 
wouldn't  forget  in  his  lifetime.  Verplanck,  he 
was  of  the  same  sort  —  prouder'n  Lucifer ;  an' 
even  if  she'd  knowed  where  to  send  for  him  his 
mother  would  ha'  understood  'twouldn't  done  a 
mite  o'  good.  But  she  didn't  send.  She  obeyed 
her  husband  to  the  last  say-so.  An'  he  didn't  live 
long  after  that,  anyway.   Elizabeth,  she  come  back, 


A  SELF -ELECTED  CONSTABLE   261 

bringin'  Monty  with  her;  but  her  own  folks  tell 
as  how  there  was  never  a  thing  said  betwixt  even 
them  two,  except  Elizabeth  sayin' :  '  I've  come 
home,  Mother  Sturtevant,  to  bring  your  grand- 
son to  the  old  place.  I  haven't  long  to  live;  but 
Verplanck  will  never  come  till  he  has  made  a  for- 
tune and  redeemed  everything.  Let  us  not  talk 
of  him.'  They  never  did.  Where  he  was  or  how, 
his  old  mother  could  only  guess.  Then  Elizabeth 
died  and  there  was  just  them  two  —  Madam  an' 
Montgomery  —  left  in  the  Mansion.  Every  year 
she  let  Jim  Petti  John  get  a  tighter  clutch  on  the 
property,  till,  as  I  tell  ye,  he  prob'ly  owns  all. 

"That's  all  of  Monty's  father.  'Twas  ten 
years  or  more  ago  when  Elizabeth  fetched  him; 
why,  my  sake !  it  must  be  full  twelve  or  up'ards, 
but  time  does  fly  so  I  forget.  I  never  believed 
Verplanck  stole  a  thing.  I  misdoubt  if  the  box 
ever  was  took.  The  Squire  bein'  queer  might  ha' 
hid  it  somewheres,  more'n  likely.  But  there's 
them  that  does  believe,  an'  I  hear  the  Madam's 
amongst  'em.  She's  searched  the  Mansion 
from  A  to  Izzard,  knowin'  every  crane  an' 
cranny  of  it,  an'  found  nothin'.  So  that's  why 
Monty's  face  got  red  when  you  asked  about  his 
father.  Marsden's  like  every  other  village,  full 
o'  gossip,  an'  what  his  grandmother  has  tried  to 
keep  from  him  hearin'  there's  been  plenty  loose 
tongues  to  let  slip.  More'n  once  I've  seen  the  poor 
little  shaver  sit  broodin'  an'  solemn  as  if  his  heart" 


262  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

was  breakin',  an'  I've  fancied  he  was  thinkin* 
'bout  his  pa.  But  he  ain't  one  the  broodin'  kind, 
thanks  be;  an'  the  very  next  thing  I  knowed  he'd 
be  up  to  some  mischief  or  other,  lively  as  a  cricket. 
But  don't  you  ever  let  on  what  I've  told  ye,  'less 
he  speaks  of  it  himself.  I'm  glad  you're  good 
friends,  an'  likely  enough  he'll  out  with  the  hull 
business  an'  all  he's  thought  an'  felt  about  it.  If 
ever  he  does,  Kitty  Keehoty,  you  remember  that 
it's  a  woman's  part  —  such  women  as  Eunice  an' 
the  Madam  an'  her  that  was  Elizabeth  Morton  — 
to  comfort  an'  cheer  them  'at  are  downcast. 
Though  I  needn't  caution  ye,  I  guess,  sence  I 
found  out  some  time  ago  that  you've  got  a  power 
o'  sympathy  in  your  fly-about  little  body.  Hm-m. 
I've  'most  talked  the  legs  off  the  iron  pot,  hain't 
I  ?  It's  time  to  quit,  an'  —  hark !  Them's 
wheels !  They're  drivin'  in  here.  They're  on  our 
gravel,  sure.  Look  out  the  winder,  child,  an'  see 
who  'tis.  I'm  most  too  tuckered  out  for  more 
comp'ny  to-night.  The  deacon,  he's  a  good  man, 
but  he  dreadful  fatiguin'." 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

KEUBEN    SMITH,    ACCESSORY 

The  wheels  belonged  to  Squire  Petti  John's 
bnggy,  in  which  were  seated  Aunt  Eunice  and 
himself.  This  was  a  combination  which,  as 
Katy  related  it  from  the  window,  greatly  aston- 
ished Moses.  Yet  there  was  nothing  surprising 
in  the  fact,  after  all.  The  gentleman  had  chanced 
to  be  up-mountain,  calling  at  the  same  house 
where  Miss  Maitland  was  visiting,  and  had  offered 
to  take  her  home,  hearing  her  say  that  she  was 
anxious  to  be  there  early  on  the  morrow. 

She  had  not  enjoyed  her  ride,  yet  blamed  her- 
self for  her  aversion  to  a  neighbor  who,  if  not  a 
gentleman,  had  learned  sufficient  good  manners 
to  conduct  himself  as  nearly  such.  The  worst 
annoyance  he  had  given  her  was  by  continual  and 
roundabout  references  to  what  had  happened  in 
the  forest.  The  more  she  evaded  his  questions 
the  more  direct  they  became,  till  she  was  almost 
forced  to  tell  everything  or  be  imputed  a  liar. 

As  they  turned  into  the  village  street  he  made  a 
final  effort  for  enlightenment,  saying: 
268 


264     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  You  must  know,  Miss  Maitland,"  —  he  did 
not  call  her  "  Eunice  "  to  her  face  as  he  had  done 
behind  her  back  to  Susanna,  —  "  you  must  know 
that  in  keeping  this  treasure,  or  whatever  was 
found  in  your  woods,  a  secret  from  others,  you 
are  injuring  somebody.  They  say  you  are  con- 
niving at  the  escape  of  a  tramp,  even.  A  tramp ! 
One  of  those  dangerous  creatures  which  infest 
our  State,  but  have  not  before  invaded  Marsden. 
I  flatter  myself  that  I  —  that  I  —  have  so  far 
prevented  their  coming,  and  I  am  certainly  mak- 
ing it  my  business  now  to  unearth  this  one  who, 
I  am  told,  lurks  principally  in  your  forest.  You 
are  a  large-hearted,  generous  lady.  Miss  Maitland ; 
one  who  is  an  honor  to  her  township  and  whom  I 
am  proud  to  call  a  neighbor  —  " 

"  Indeed  ?  I  thank  you,"  said  Aunt  Eunice, 
stiffly. 

Squire  Pettijohn  ignored  the  interruption.  He 
meant  to  make  the  most  of  this  unlooked-for 
chance  to  satisfy  his  curiosity  and  his  self-impor- 
tance, and  continued  as  if  she  had  not  spoken : 

"  But  who,  I  fear,  sometimes  lets  her  heart  run 
away  with  her  head.  In  pitying  the  individual, 
namely,  the  tramp  in  present  question,  you  should 
also  remember  that  you  are  endangering  the 
community." 

"  Nonsense.  But  may  I  ask,  in  turn,  from 
whom  you  gained  your  information  that  I  pro- 
tected the  tramp  ?  " 


EEUBEN   SMITH,  ACCESSORY       265 

"  Hm-m  —  Er  —  Ah !  I  believe  it  was  Mrs. 
Turner  who  said  that  you  said  you  '  hoped  if  any 
poor  hungry  wretch  strayed  into  this  village  of 
plenty  he  would  get  enough  to  eat  for  once.'  That 
you  '  had  always  regretted  we  had  no  really  poor 
people  in  Marsden,  where  they  could  be  cared  for, 
and  so  lessen  the  number  of  starving  persons 
elsewhere.'  Mrs.  Turner  made  a  personal  appli- 
cation of  the  remark,  and  suggested  that  if  it  had 
been  your  pies  which  had  been  purloined  you 
might  feel  differently." 

Eunice  laughed  as  gaily  as  a  girl,  and  ex- 
claimed : 

"  So  it  has  grown  to  be  '  pies,'  has  it  ?  The  last 
time  I  heard  the  matter  mentioned  it  was  one 
possible  pie,  and  Robert,  as  well  as  a  tramp,  had 
been  in  the  locality  where  they  were  set  to  cool. 
Besides,  it  would  be  an  excellent  thing  if  they  had 
all  been  taken.  Mrs.  Turner  is  a  nice  woman, 
but  she  can't  make  pastry  fit  to  eat,  as  witness 
her  husband's  dyspepsia.  Monty  says  they  have 
pie  at  the  Turners  three  times  a  day,  and  it's  a 
paradise  for  hungry  small  visitors  who  can 
digest  anything.  Indeed,  I  am  surprised  to  leam 
I  gave  my  neighbor  offence  on  this  same  pie  sub- 
ject. We  talked  for  some  time  over  it  and  she 
fell  into  my  idea  that  fruit  for  dessert  would  suit 
Mr.  Turner  far  better  than  pastry,  and  save  her  a 
world  of  trouble.     It  would  also  diminish  the 


266  THE   BKASS   BOUND   BOX 

number  of  the  children's  playmate  '  droppers-in ' 
at  meal-times.    Yes,  I  am  surprised." 

They  had  come  within  sight  of  The  Maples, 
and  Squire  Pettijohn  had,  with  apparent  careless- 
ness, let  back  the  top  of  the  buggy  so  that  any  who 
cared  might  observe  him  riding  with  the  mistress 
of  that  fine  old  estate  and  the  present  centre  or 
heroine  of  so  much  mystery.  This  was  an  un- 
usual thing  to  do,  for  letting  carriage-tops  back 
is  apt  to  crack  the  leather,  and  "  Jim  "  Pettijohn 
cracked  nothing  which  could  be  preserved.  Eu- 
nice comprehended  and  smiled  quietly  in  her  cor- 
ner of  the  seat,  talking  at  length  as  she  had  done 
to  stave  off  any  further  prying  into  her  affairs. 

Even  yet  she  was  not  to  be  let  free.  Said  the 
gentleman,  with  a  preliminary  cough : 

"  I  do  hope  and  trust,  dear  Miss  Maitland,  that 
you  will  forego  a  mistaken  expression  of  sym- 
pathy, should  an  appeal  be  made  to  you,  and 
assist  me  as  a  magistrate  to  nip  this  evil  in  the 
bud.  In  other  words,  to  send  this  vagrant  to  the 
lockup  at  the  earliest  possible  moment.  As  I 
observed,  you  owe  it  to  your  community  to  protect 
it,  not  endanger  it." 

Eunice  turned  her  glowing  eyes  upon  him. 
"  And  I  owe  to  the  Great  Father,  who  has  given 
us  this  day,  to  be  good  to  every  child  of  His,  how- 
ever humble.  If  the  tramp  comes  to  my  door  he 
shall  be  fed.  If  he  needs  shelter  I  will  shelter 
him.     If  he  needs  clothing  I  will  clothe  him. 


REUBEN  SMITH,  ACCESSORY   267 

Why,  look,  man,  look !  "  spreading  her  hand  wide 
to  point  out  the  lovely  surroundings :  "  Should 
anybody  come  into  all  this  and  go  away  not  the 
better  for  it  ?  How  do  we  know  what  chance  has 
brought  this  stranger  hither  ?  Or  what  and  where 
his  life  began  ?  Maybe,  in  just  some  such  favored 
country  village ;  and  once,  at  least,  he  was  — 
somebody's  son." 

The  tenderness  of  her  compassionate  tone  but 
hardened  the  other's  purpose. 

"  Huh !  If  he  were  my  own  son,  even,  I  would 
have  the  law  on  him  to  the  fullest  extremity !  " 
he  answered,  harshly;  and  Eunice  shivered,  re- 
membering, as  he  seemed  to  have  forgotten,  that 
poor  son  of  his  who  had  gone  astray  and  might 
be  roaming  the  world  then,  as  was  this  unknown 
who  had  so  stirred  the  lawyer's  wrath. 

Baffled  yet  persistent,  as  he  helped  her  alight 
at  her  own  threshold,  the  Squire  put  one  more 
sudden  question : 

"  But,  after  all,  there  was  something  —  some- 
thing—  found  in  your  woods  that  day,  wasn't 
there?" 

It  was  not  even  in  Eunice's  patience  to  endure 
thus  much.  Caught  unawares,  she  burst  out,  in- 
dignantly : 

"  Yes,  there  was  something  found,  but  it  does 
not  concern  anybody  to  know  what.  Thank  you 
for  your  courtesy,  and  —  good  evening." 

The   lawyer   drove   homeward   satisfied.      She 


268     THE  BKASS  BOUND  BOX 

had  admitted  "  the  find."  He  would  now  pro- 
ceed to  unearth  it.  Incidentally,  he  would  unearth 
the  tramp,  but  that  was,  in  his  estimation,  a 
secondary  matter. 

Eunice  reentered  her  home,  glad  to  be  there, 
but  as  Susanna  saw  at  first  greeting,  "  all  stirred 
up  and  upsot."  She  would  not  allow  herself  to 
talk  till  she  had  recovered  her  composure.  She 
even  promptly,  though  affectionately,  dismissed 
Katharine  to  her  bed,  reminding  her  that  the  mor- 
row brought  school  again  and  she  must  be  awake 
early. 

The  little  girl  was  disappointed.  She  had 
longed  for  a  long,  cosy  talk  with  her  guardian 
over  so  many,  many  things.  Not  least  of  all  con- 
cerning the  brilliant  scheme  which  had  occurred 
to  her  and  Monty  that  day  on  the  hay.  Nor  did 
it  please  her  any  too  well  to  lie  and  listen  to  the 
voices  of  Eunice  and  Susanna,  murmuring  on  and 
on  indefinitely,  in  the  sitting-room  below.  Com- 
monly the  housekeeper  went  early  to  sleep  on 
Sunday  nights,  for  it  was  her  habit  to  rise  before 
daybreak  and  set  about  her  Monday  washing. 
To-night  the  great  clock  struck  eleven,  actually 
eleven,  before  this  conference  broke  up;  only 
tt>  be  resumed  at  intervals  during  the  next  morn- 
ing, whenever  the  pair  were  alone. 

However,  Katharine  had  other  matters  on  hand 
so  absorbing  that  even  the  mysteries  of  tramp  and 
brass  bound  box  sank  out  of  mind.     She  was  off 


REUBEN   SMITH,  ACCESSORY       269 

to  school  a  half-hour  before  time,  and  strangely 
enough  Montgomery  was  equally  prompt.  To- 
gether they  repaired  to  the  wooden  bench  under 
the  beech-tree,  and  while  the  lad  suggested  things 
to  be  written  dowm,  Kate  wrote  them  rapidly  on 
little  slips  of  paper,  which  suspiciously  resembled 
a  leaf  from  a  copy-book. 

Other  scholars  came  along  and  stared,  won- 
dering what  had  sent  this  usually  tardy  boy  so 
far  in  advance  of  the  bell.  Little  girls  tittered. 
Phrony  Walker  tossed  her  braid  flippantly  over 
her  shoulder,  casually  displaying  a  new  hair 
ribbon  with  which  she  meant  to  impress  the  city 
girl  who  wore  and  needed  none.  Sophronia's 
hair  did  not  kink  and  curl  as  Katharine's  did,  but 
it  was  "  a  hunderd  times  as  long  and  a  great  deal 
prettier  colored."  Kate  had  said  so  herself,  yet 
here  was  she  who  was  so  generously  admiring, 
almost  covetous,  calmly  unobservant  of  braid, 
ribbon,  and  all. 

Martha  and  Mary  Turner  came,  swinging  their 
lunch-basket  between  them,  delightfully  conscious 
that  in  its  depths  were  stored  three  apple  turn- 
overs, one  for  each  of  them  and  one  for  Kitty 
Keehoty,  who  was  never  allowed  to  carry  pie  to 
school.  With  a  child's  fondness  for  the  indigesti- 
ble, she  had  once  declared  that  Mrs.  Turner's  turn- 
overs were  "  sim-ply  de-lic-ious,"  and  they  had 
teased  their  mother  ever  since  to  make  one  for 
their  new  friend.    But  they  stopped  short  at  sight 


270     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

of  the  light  and  dark  head  so  close  together  over 
something  they  did  not  know  about,  and  when 
Martha  drew  nearer  and  informed  the  dark- 
haired  scribbler  that  she  had  "  brought  it," 
Kate  merely  nodded  her  head  and  continued  scrib- 
bling. 

Bob  and  Ned  arrived,  tackle  over  shoulder, 
intent  upon  playing  hookey  at  afternoon  session, 
and  disgusted  that  Monty  was  so  little  excited 
by  their  grimacing  pantomime,  as  they  demon- 
strated how  they  would  escape  to  the  woods  and 
invited  his  company.  Then  they  tried  ridicule, 
calling  "  girl-boy,  girl-boy,"  as  loudly  as  they 
dared,  with  Katharine's  scornful  glances  upon 
them.  Monty  grew  fiery  red  and  tossed  his  blond 
head  as  if  shaking  an  obnoxious  insect  from  it, 
but  did  not  cease  to  scratch  it  for  ideas,  which 
he  whispered  to  his  companion  as  fast  as  he  dug 
them  out. 

Even  when  the  teacher  came  and  Kate  sprang 
to  her  feet  to  bid  him  her  always  courteously 
ready  "  Good  morning,"  also  dragging  Mont- 
gomery to  his  own  feet  as  a  reminder  of  what  was 
correct,  that  excited,  exalted  expression  left 
neither  young  face. 

Matters  continued  thus  all  through  school. 
Monty  was  worse  than  ordinary  in  the  matter  of 
lessons,  and  that  was  saying  much.  Katharine, 
having  had  better  advantages,  stood  far  in  advance 
of  her  class,  so  had  no  need  to  study,  and  kept  her 


REUBEN   SMITH,   ACCESSORY       271 

slips  of  paper  in  her  book  all  the  time  she  sat 
at  her  desk.  She  was  not  a  rapid  writer  and  she 
certainly  had  a  deal  of  writing  to  do.  At  recess 
the  bef ore-school  performance  was  repeated ;  and 
when  the  truants,  Bob  and  Ned,  disappeared  in  the 
direction  of  the  "  Eddy  "  after  "  noonin',''  Monty 
failed  to  send  one  regretful  glance  thither.  He 
was  more  occupied  in  watching  the  face  of  the 
clock  than  anything  else,  and  as  soon  as  dismissal- 
bell  rang,  darted  from  the  schoolroom  as  if  pro- 
pelled by  a  gun.  Just  then,  too,  the  first  warning 
notes  of  Reuben  Smith's  horn  came  floating 
through  the  trees  and  down  the  street,  and  there- 
after all  that  was  seen  of  the  boy  was  a  pair  of 
heels  vanishing  in  air. 

"  Why,  what  in  the  world  ails  Monty  ?  And 
say,  Katy,  didn't  you  like  your  turnover  ? "  asked 
Martha  Turner,  drawing  near  to  her  heroine  and 
showing  that  she  felt  somewhat  aggrieved. 

"Oh,  Monty's  all  right.  He —  Don't  you 
worry.  You'll  all  know  sometime.  And  didn't  I 
eat  it?" 

"  Yes.  You  ate  it  fast  enough,  but  you  didn't 
say  whether  you  liked  it  or  not.  I  think  ma, 
she  — " 

"  Oh,  you  dear  thing !  Of  course  I  liked  it ; 
and  please  make  my  regards  to  your  mother  and 
tell  her  that  I  thank  her  very  much.  It  was  the 
nicest  turnover  I  ever  had,  and  —  and  it  was  the 
first  one." 


272  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

To  an  older  mind  this  might  not  have  been  so 
convincing  an  argument,  but  it  satisfied  Martha. 
She  considered  that  Katharine  Maitland  had  the 
"  perfectly  sweetest  manner  of  any  girl  in  the 
world,"  and  was  daily  trying  to  improve  her  own 
by  the  pattern  set.  "  Make  my  regards."  She 
had  never  heard  that  phrase  before,  but  it  im- 
pressed her  as  very  stately  and  "  Miss  Eunicey," 
so  put  it  away  in  her  memory  for  future  use.  She 
was  further  delighted  by  Katharine's  begging  her 
and  Mary  to  walk  home  with  her,  as  far  as  they 
went  her  way,  for  she  had  something  to  talk  over 
with  them. 

But  when  she  revealed  this  "  something "  it 
proved  not  so  much  after  all.  She  merely  in- 
quired exactly  how  many  boys  and  girls  there 
were  in  their  school  and  out  of  it.  "  I  want  to 
get  the  name  of  every  single  child  that  isn't  more 
than  sixteen  years  old.  As  much  younger  as  you 
please,  but  older  than  that  would  be  grown-ups. 
At  least,  they  would  be  in  Baltimore." 

That  settled  it.  Whatever  was  done  "  in  Balti- 
more "  seemed  to  these  young  provincials  as  the 
acme  of  correctness ;  little  knowing  that  to  a 
wider  world  even  "  Baltimore  "  was  also  provin- 
cial. 

But  it  was  easy  enough  to  "  count  noses,"  as 
Mary  phrased  it,  and  the  list  of  names  Katharine 
had  already  prepared  swelled  considerably.  She 
wrote  as  she  walked,  the  cover  of  her  book  her 


REUBEN   SMITH,  ACCESSORY       273 

desk,  and  with  such  haste  that  the  writing  was 
almost  illegible.  However,  a  trifle  of  that  sort 
could  be  overcome. 

"  No,  Mattie,  I  know  it  isn't  very  plain,  but  I 
guess  I'll  make  it  out.  Let's  hurry.  Reuben 
Smith's  blowing  his  go-away  horn,  and  I  want  to 
see  —  Oh,  yes !  There  he  is  !  The  stage-driver 
keeps  blowing  every  little  while,  yet  he  keeps  talk- 
ing, too,  so  I  know  it's  all  right !  Oh,  just  fancy ! 
It's  going  to  be  perfectly,  perfectly  splendid  !  Oh, 
you  dear,  dear  things !  " 

Katharine's  playmates  were  accustomed  to  be- 
ing caught  up  and  hugged  whenever  anything 
pleased  her  more  than  common,  and  she  was 
usually  as  free  in  explaining  her  delight  as  in 
expressing  it  physically.  But  she  explained  noth- 
ing now.  She  merely  squeezed  their  hands,  and 
stared  at  Mr.  Smith  still  arguing  with  Mont- 
gomery, till  suddenly  looking  around  she  saw  their 
puzzled  faces. 

"  Never  mind  me,  girls.  I  can't  tell  yet, 
not  just  yet,  because  it's  a  beautiful  secret.  But 
you'll  all  know  right  soon.  You're  going  to  be 
in  it,  too;  we're  all  going  to  be  in  it!  Oh,  the 
happy  old  man !  Oh,  the  fun !  Oh,  the  queer 
crazy  decorations!  I  believe  I'm  just  t-oo  happy 
to  live !  But  the  stage  is  going  and  I  must  run  to 
Monty.  Good-by.  Be  sure  to  be  at  school  to- 
morrow.    Then  you'll  know." 

Reuben  Smith  mounted  to  his  higli  seat,  blew 


274     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

a  farewell  blast  on  his  ancient  horn,  and  drove 
awaj  out  of  the  village,  while  Montgomery  fairly 
tumbled  over  himself  in  his  haste  to  meet  Katha- 
rine, who  greeted  him  with  the  question: 

"Well,  will  he  doit?" 

"  Y-y-y-ye-es !  "  gasped  the  breathless  lad,  and 
sat  down  on  the  edge  of  the  path  to  recover. 

For  once  careless  of  dust,  Kate  dropped  down 
beside  him  and  counted  questions  off  upon  her 
fingers  so  fast  that  Monty  could  only  nod  his  head 
in  acquiescence.  Then  she  drew  a  small  chain 
purse  from  her  blouse  pocket,  where  it  had  been 
carefully  pinned  ever  since  she  left  home  in  the 
morning.  From  this  she  took  a  pile  of  new  one- 
dollar  bills  —  ten  in  all  —  and  laid  them  one  by 
one  on  Montgomery's  outstretched  palms.  It  was 
the  largest  amount  of  money  Kate  had  ever  owned, 
it  was  almost  the  largest  the  boy  had  ever  seen. 
A  feeling  like  awe  stole' upon  him  and  he  whis- 
pered, —  without  a  stutter,  —  "  S'pose  he  should 
lose  it !  " 

"  That's  a  good  boy.  Monty,  you're  improving 
so  fast,  you'll  beat  the  time  I  set  for  you  to  con- 
quer in.  Have  you  said  your  piece  to-day  ?  And, 
of  course  he  won't  lose  it.  Men  don't  lose  things. 
Except  Uncle  Moses  his  '  specs  '  and  the  deacon  his 
two-pronged  fork,  that's  never  in  the  hay-mow 
when  he  wants  it  there.  Stage-drivers  don't  lose, 
anyway,  and  I'm  glad  it's  you,  not  I,  who  have 
to  deal  with  him.     He  doesn't  like  me  much.     I 


REUBEN   SMITH,   ACCESSOEY       275 

was  saucy  when  I  came.  I  don't  think  I  am  quite, 
not  quite  so  saucy  spoken  as  I  was  when  I  came. 
Do  you,  Monty  ?  " 

"  0-o-oh,  not  n-n-nigh !  "  he  easily  replied,  never 
having  thought  at  all  about  it.  He  was  still  en- 
tranced with  the  possession,  even  temporary,  of 
such  vast  wealth  as  he  was  now  bestowing  in  an 
old  and  hitherto  useless  purse.  The  crisp  new 
bills.  How  fat  they  made  it!  How  utterly  and 
entirely  delightful  was  this  girl  from  the  outside 
world  who  had  such  wonderful  ideas  and  the 
ability  to  carry  them  out ! 

Then  the  purse  was  put  away  in  the  innermost 
of  all  his  many  inner  pockets,  and  around  his 
blouse,  beneath  his  jacket,  Monty  fastened  a 
leather  strap.  Buckling  this  so  tight  he  could 
hardly  breathe,  and  fastening  the  coat  over  all, 
he  slapped  his  chest  admiringly,  and  valiantly 
declared : 

"  A-a-anybody  get  that  a-a-away  from  me'll 
have  to  k-k-kill  me  f-f -first !  " 

Katy  jumped  up.  "  Let's  go  ask  Aunt  Eunice 
about  the  pumpkins !  " 

In  an  instant  they  were  off  down  the  street, 
and  some,  looking  out  of  window  as  they  raced 
past,  remarked: 

"  There  they  go  again,  Sturtevant  and  Mait- 
land,  each  generation  as  close  friends  as  the 
other.     But  chummy  as  they've  been  ever  since 


276  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

Johnny's  girl  came  to  Marsden,  there's  some- 
thing more  than  common  on  the  carpet  now." 

There  certainly  was.  They  burst  in  upon  Miss 
Maitland's  solitude,  forgetful  to  tap  at  door  as 
they  both  knew  they  should,  and  simultaneously 
besought  the  startled  lady: 

"  Please,  Aunt  Eunice,  may  we  have  all  the 
pumpkins  in  the  south  corn-field  ?  " 

At  least,  that  was  what  Katharine  said. 
Monty's  request  was  proffered  stammeringly  but 
not  less  earnestly,  and  he  said  "  punkins  "  with 
no  attempt  at  correctness  of  speech. 

"  Children !  What  a  pair  of  noisy  creatures 
you  are  !  Where  have  you  come  from  ?  You  are 
late  if  just  from  school.  And,  Montgomery,  does 
your  grandmother  know  that  you  are  here  ?  " 

"  N-n-no,  Aunt  E-E-E-Eunice.  Nev'  mind 
her.     She  w-w-won't  care.     C-c-c-can  we  ?  " 

"I  —  don't  think  I  quite  understand.  Did  you 
ask  me  for  a  pumpkin  ?    Please  repeat." 

"  '  A  pumpkin  '  —  that's  one ;  no,  indeed  !  " 
said  Katy,  scornfully.  "  We  want  the  whole 
field  full  of  them.  We  sha'n't  hurt  them  any, 
Monty  says,  and  he  knows  'bout  country  things 
better  than  I  do."  Here  she  bestowed  such  an 
approving  smile  upon  her  comrade  that  he  flushed 
and  smiled  beatifically.  There  were  so  few,  so 
very  few,  things  in  which  he  could  really  excel 
this  superior  city  creature,  yet  she  was  so  gen- 


EEUBEN   SMITH,  ACCESSOEY       277 

erous  as  to  perceive  them  even  before  lie  did  him- 
self. 

Just  then  Susanna  came  in  greatly  flurried, 
and,  catching  Eunice's  arm,  tried  to  draw  her 
hastily  out  of  the  room.  Miss  Maitland  hersqlf 
had  swiftly  caught  her  housemate's  perturbation. 
Indeed,  she  had  already  been  perturbed  when  the 
children  intruded  upon  her,  and  had,  apparently, 
now  forgotten  them. 

Katharine  saw  their  opportunity  slipping  from 
them,  and  opportunity  was  something  that  girl 
never  wasted  for  want  of  readiness  to  seize  it. 
Running  after  the  departing  lady,  she  clasped  her 
skirt  and  stayed  her  long  enough  to  put  her  ques- 
tion once  more: 

"  May  we,  aunty  ?  Oh,  please,  before  you  go, 
say  —  yes !  " 

"  Yes.  Why,  of  course,  yes,  yes,"  returned  the 
lady,  all  unheeding  unto  what  she  had  given  her 
consent. 

But  she  was  to  learn.  Ah,  yes!  She  was  to 
learn  in  good  tima 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

WHAT    THE    MOON    SAW    IN    THE    COKN  -  FIELD 

October  had  now  nearly  gone,  and  there  was  a 
chill  in  the  air  which  would,  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances, have  made  both  Eunice  and  Susanna 
pause  before  setting  off  into  the  woods  at  that 
hour  in  the  afternoon.  Certainly  they  would 
not  have  gone  without  wraps  and  shawls  galore, 
but  neither  paused  now.  As  swiftly,  almost  as 
secretly,  as  two  guilty  schoolgirls  would  have 
started  upon  some  surreptitious  adventure,  they 
left  the  house  by  the  back  door  and  passed  through 
the  back  garden.  From  thence  they  struck  into 
the  path  to  the  woodland  and  hurried  forward. 
Between  strides  the  widow  managed  to  interject  a 
few  explanatory  sentences. 

".  I  got  the  wash  off  the  line."  Pause.  "  An' 
I  got  oneasy."  Another  pause.  Resuming:  "I 
felt  druv  to  go  out  there,  alone  even,  an'  see. 
What  you  said  about  starvin'  him  worked  on  me, 
dreadful.  I  took  a  basket  o'  victuals.  Bad  as 
he  is  —    Oh,  my  suz !  " 

"  Walk  slower,  Susanna.  We  shall  be  overdone 
278 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  279 

if  we  keep  this  pace.  What  then  ? "  asked  Miss 
Maitland. 

"  Well,  I  went.  I  run  'most  all  the  way.  I 
got  there  —  an'  he  wasn't.     He  wasn't  at  all !  " 

"  Do  you  mean  that  he  had  left  the  cottage  ? " 

"  My  suz !  I  should  think  he  has.  He's  left, 
an'  my  log-cabin  quilt's  left,  an'  my  best  feather 
tick,  an'  pillows,  an'  a  pair  blankets  —  that 
kitchen-bedroom  bedstead's  stripped  as  clean  as 
'twas  the  day  it  was  born  —  I  mean,  sot  up. 
Now  —  what  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"  I  think  —  Oh,  what  a  miserable  business 
it  all  is !  I  am  so  worried  I  cannot  sleep.  Right 
and  wrong,  right  and  wrong,  like  the  pendulum 
of  the  clock  the  two  sides  of  the  matter  swing  in 
my  mind  till  I'm  half-distracted.  I  hardly  know 
what  I  am  doing  or  saying,  I  am  so  anxious  to 
do  the  best  for  everybody,  yet  what  is  best?  I 
have  a  fear  that  those  children  asked  me  some- 
thing absurd  a  few  minutes  ago,  and  I  said  '  yes ' 
to  them  without  comprehending.  I  think  they 
said  *  a  field  of  pumpkins.'  What  could  they  want 
with  a  field  —  a  field  —  of  pumpkins  ?  " 

"  Didn't  want  'em,  of  course.  Some  their  silli- 
ness. Don't  worry.  What's  punkins,  anyhow, 
compared  with  that  log-cabin  quilt  ?  " 

"  Little,  to  be  sure.  And  I  hope  it  isn't  really 
lost.  Are  you  certain  that  the  poor  wretch  is  he 
you  said  ? " 


280     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  As  sure  as  I  draw  my  breath,"  averred  Su- 
sanna, solemnly. 

"  Then  Squire  Petti  John  must  never  know," 
said  Eunice,  with  equal  solemnity. 

After  that  they  hurried  silently  onward  again, 
reckless  of  the  fact  that  they  had  left  a  bedridden 
man  alone  in  the  house,  for  although  the  deacon 
was  still  about  his  evening  chores,  such  kept  him 
wholly  outside.  As  for  Katharine,  she  might  or 
might  not  be  on  hand  if  Moses  summoned  her. 
Evidently  she  and  her  boy-chum  had  some  fine 
scheme  on  hand  and  were  away  to  put  it  in  train, 
since  they  had  both  been  more  than  commonly 
excited  and  eager. 

Never  mind.  There  are  times  in  life  when  its 
commonplace  affairs  must  yield  to  the  extraor- 
dinary. These  two  quiet  householders  had  come 
to  such  a  time  on  that  late  October  day. 

They  had  walked  almost  as  far  as  Susanna's 
cottage  when  Eunice  paused,  and  held  her  com- 
panion also  back,  as  she  pointed  through  the 
darkening  wood  to  a  wild-looking  creature  prowl- 
ing among  the  trees.  He  was  evidently  looking 
for  something.  His  search  so  earnest  and  troubled 
that  the  caution  he  had  heretofore  displayed  had 
deserted  him.  Stooping,  poking  among  the  leaves 
and  bracken,  rising,  moving  toward  another  tree, 
stooping  again  —  repeating  endlessly  this  same 
proceeding,  the  watchers  soon  tired  of  simply 
observing  him. 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  281 

"  Stay  here,  Susanna.  You  were  right.  It  is 
he.     I  will  go  and  speak  to  him." 

"  Alone  ?  Oh,  Eunice,  don't !  Let  the  old  quilt 
go !  I  wish  I  hadn't  told  ye.  Besides,  who'd  ever 
want  to  sleep  under  it  after  he'd  touched  it  ?  " 

But  though  she  caught  at  her  mistress's  hand 
to  prevent  such  foolhardiness,  Susanna  could  not 
stop  her.  She  was  walking  swiftly  toward  the 
searcher  and  almost  noiselessly,  and  had  come  up 
to  him  before  he  was  aware.  When  she  was  close 
at  his  side,  so  close  that  her  firm  fingers  rested  on 
his  ragged  shoulder,  he  discovered  her  and  started 
away.  But  she  held  him  quiet,  more  by  her  will 
than  her  grasp,  while,  looking  steadily  into  his 
eyes,  she  spoke  his  name,  gently,  kindly,  as  one 
who  welcomes  a  long  absent  friend : 

"  Nathan !  Why,  Nathan !  How  glad  I  am 
to  see  you !  " 

The  tramp  no  longer  struggled  to  free  himself, 
but  as  if  spellbound  by  her  gaze  returned  it  in 
silence.  Gradually  there  stole  over  his  haggard 
features  the  light  of  recognition,  and,  instead  of 
remembering  later  events,  his  mind  reverted  to 
his  boyhood. 

"Be  you  Miss  Eunice?  But  —  I  hain't  got 
my  lesson." 

Again  he  would  have  slunk  away  expecting  a 
reprimand ;  yet  none  came.  Quite  to  the  con- 
trary. Miss  Maitland's  own  faxje  brightened  and 
she  laughed,  answering: 


282     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  Never  mind  the  lesson,  laddie.  We're  not 
little  boy  and  young  woman  to-day,  Sunday 
scholar  and  Sunday  teacher.  We're  just  two  old 
friends  well  met,  with  other  things  to  learn  be- 
sides printed  lessons.  What  have  you  lost?  Can 
I  help  you  find  it  ?  " 

"  A  box.  His'n.  I  fetched  it  safe  so  fur  —  an' 
now  —  now  —  I  can't  see  it  nowhere.  Planck'U 
frown  an'  make  me  feel  mean.     I  promised  —  " 

There  a  pitiful  stupidity  took  the  place  of  the 
intelligent  recognition  he  had  momentarily  dis- 
played, and  he  resumed  that  fruitless  search  under 
the  trees. 

"Wait,  Nathan.  Maybe  I  know.  Maybe  I 
can  help  you.  The  box  was  an  old,  old  box.  It 
was  of  mahogany,  heavy,  bound  with  brass,  with 
neither  key  nor  keyhole,  and  only  those  who  had 
been  shown  how  could  open  it.  Is  that  the  one, 
Nathan  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes !  It's  all  safe  inside.  He  put  it 
there  —  just  when  —  just  —  " 

With  a  sudden  outburst  of  grief  he  began  to 
weep.  The  great  tears  ran  down  his  dirty  cheeks 
and  streaked  them.  His  breath  came  in  great 
blubbering  sobs  which  he  made  no  effort  to  check. 

Eunice  Maitland  also  went  back  in  spirit  many 
years  and  saw  before  her  now,  not  the  repellent 
vagrant,  but  a  forlorn  child  who  must  be  com- 
forted. Without  shrinking  she  clasped  his  vile 
hand   in   her   dainty   one   and   turned   him   back 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  283 

toward  Susanna's  cottage.'^  That  good  soul  had 
now  drawn  near  and  was  herself  crying  bitterly. 
Why  —  she  could  hardly  have  explained.  Surely, 
not  from  any  affection  "  for  Nathan  Petti  John, 
returned  rascal,  nor  from  any  sentimental  memory 
of  bygone  years,  such  as  her  mistress's;  but  just 
naturally,  in  sympathy  with  two  other  tear-wet 
faces.  She  found  the  tears  a  relief.  Indeed, 
they  all  appeared  to  do  so,  and  began  to  retrace 
the  way  to  the  woodland  cottage  with  swifter 
steps.  The  two  women,  because  they  were  feeling 
the  cold  and  now  realizing  what  a  foolish  thing 
they  had  done  in  coming  out  unprotected  from 
it.  The  vagrant,  because  it  was  his  nature  to  fol- 
low rather  than  lead.  Arrived  there,  they  found 
the  door  wide  open  and  the  furnishing  sadly  dis- 
ordered. Evidently,  Nathan  had  rummaged  the 
place  thoroughly. 

The  Widow  Sprigg  had  long  since  dried  her 
unaccountable  tears,  and  was  freshly  indignant 
at  the  state  of  affairs.  So  soon  as  they  were 
within  doors  she  turned  upon  the  intruder,  and 
demanded : 

"  What  did  you  mean  by  such  doin's  as  these, 
Nate  Pettijohn?  Ain't  you  ashamed  to  destroy 
folkses  prope'ty  this  way  ?  Where's  my  log-cabin 
quilt  ?     My  pillows  ?     All  my  things  ?  " 

The  man  paid  no  heed  to  her,  but  fixed  a  hun- 
gry gaze  upon  the  basket  she  had  brought  earlier 
in  the  afternoon,  and  Eunice  interposed: 


284     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  Wait,  Susanna.  Let  us  feed  him  first,  and 
hear  his  story  afterward." 

With  that  she  opened  the  basket  and  set  fresh 
food  before  him,  while,  with  that  thoughtfulness 
which  was  so  constantly  belying  her  sharp  tongue, 
the  cottage  mistress  went  to  the  well  and  brought 
in  a  fresh  pail  of  water.  Though  not  as  ravenous 
as  he  had  been  that  afternoon  by  the  riverside, 
he  even  now  devoured,  rather  than  ate,  the  sand- 
wiches and  cakes,  swallowing  them  noisily  and 
so  rapidly  that  what  the  housekeeper  had  supposed 
would  be  sujffieient  to  last  any  one  for  at  least 
twenty-four  hours  disappeared  in  less  than  as 
many  minutes. 

"  Well,  my  suz !  If  that  don't  beat  the  Dutch ! 
I  shouldn't  think,  if  I  hadn't  knowed  better,  'at 
you'd  seen  a  mouthful  o'  victuals  sence  you 
scooted  out  o'  Marsden  a  dozen  years  ago!  An' 
as  for  manners  —  "vvhy,  our  pigs  is  better  behaved. 
Water  ?  Drink  your  fill,  an'  then,  Nate  Pettijohn, 
you  walk  right  straight  out  to  that  wash-dish  in 
the  lean-to  an'  scrub  yourself  well.  Of  all  the 
dirty  creatur's  —     Why,  what  ?  " 

The  vagrant  had  been  seized  by  a  violent  fit 
of  coughing,  so  fierce  that  it  threatened  hemor- 
rhage;   and  Susanna's  wrath  died. 

"  Consumption !  "  she  whispered  to  Eunice,  and 
shivered.  It  was  of  consumption  "  Spriggs,  he  " 
had  died. 

The  paroxysm  passed  and  left  its  victim  ex- 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  285 

hausted.  With  a  longing  for  rest,  he  tottered  out 
of  the  kitchen  into  the  lean-to,  but  not  to  wash  as 
its  owner  had  suggested.  He  went  directly  to  the 
now  uncovered  manhole  of  the  cistern  and  slowly 
descended  a  short  ladder  which  protruded  from 
it  and  had  always  hitherto  hung  upon  the  wall. 
The  women  watched  him  in  astonishment,  then 
Susanna  hastily  procured  a  candle,  and,  lighting 
it,  held  it  above  the  opening. 

As  she  had  herself  once  said,  the  cistern  was  as 
dry  as  possible,  and  was  in  reality  like  a  low- 
ceilinged  little  room,  with  the  manhole  for  sky- 
light. Into  this  place  the  vagrant  had  tossed  the 
missing  bedding,  and  with  his  habit  of  hiding 
had  bestowed  himself  upon  it.  In  all  proba- 
bility, he  had  rarely  occupied  so  snug  and  comfort- 
able, though  peculiar,  a  bedchamber. 

"  My  —  s-u-z !  "  gasped  the  widow,  and  sat 
down  on  a  wash-bench  to  recover  from  her  amaze- 
ment. 

Miss  Maitland  said  nothing,  yet  an  expression 
of  great  satisfaction  settled  upon  her  countenance, 
and,  motioning  her  friend  back  into  the  kitchen, 
explained  its  cause. 

"  Nathan  himself  has  decided  what  should  best 
be  done  with  him.  He  is  perfectly  safe  and  com- 
fortable in  that  cistern.  It  is  warm  and  suffi- 
ciently aired.  He  will  not  be  apt  to  build  a  fire, 
as  you  feared,  especially  if  we  see  to  it  that  ho 
has  enough  to  eat.     Nobody  will  think  of  looking 


286     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

for  him  in  such  a  place,  even  though,  as  he  de- 
clared  he  should,  his  father  organizes  a  search 
for  him.  Unhappy  father,  if  he  does,  and  — 
poor,  unhappy  son.  He  looks  very  ill,  and  he 
certainly  is  no  more  intelligent  than  when  he  went 
away.  But  he  is  evidently  faithful  to  Verplanck 
Sturtevant,  as  he  always  was.  It  is  he  that  has 
brought  back  and  for  safe-keeping,  presumably, 
hidden  the  brass  bound  box  that  Katharine  found, 
and  that  has  led  to  so  many  wild  rumors.  Do  you 
not  think  we  would  better  leave  him  undisturbed 
for  the  present,  until  I  can  secure  better  clothing 
for  him  ?  Also,  can  decide  that  awful  question  — 
whether  or  not  to  tell  Elinor  the  stolen  box  is 
found.  It  will  be  like  deliberately  trying  to 
break  her  heart  over  again  if  I  give  it  to  her  and 
it  is  empty.  Yet,  it  is  not  mine,  and  it  rests  on 
my  conscience  like  an  actual  weight.  Do  advise 
me,  Susanna," 

From  which  it  appears  that  the  widow's  curi- 
osity had  already  been  satisfied  concerning  the 
fabulous  "  find  "  in  the  Maitland  forest,  and  she 
readily  assented  to  her  companion's  idea. 

"  No,  Eunice,  we  couldn't  do  better.  Let  him 
be.  Poor  wretch,  he  won't  trouble  nobody  long, 
by  the  sound  o'  that  cough.  An'  if  Squire  Petti- 
john  is  mean  enough  an'  onfeelin'  enough  to 
treat  him  like  he  vowed  he  would  ary  tramp, 
^  even  his  own  son,'  I  guess  we  can  let  the  Lord 
'tend  to  him.     He  wouldn't  know  another  day's 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  287 

peace,  not  if  he's  human;  'cause  once  that  mis'- 
able  creatur',  no  matter  what  he  is  now,  was  a 
baby  —  a  baby  in  arms.  But  —  my  suz,  Eunice ! 
I've  just  figured  it  out!  How  can  the  Squire 
'rest  anybody  ?  He  ain't  no  constable.  Nobody 
ain't  a  constable  here  in  Marsden.  Ain't  been 
none  sence  Isaac  Brewster  died,  an'  nobody  would 
take  his  place.  'Less  I'm  one,  myself,  as  Moses 
said." 

At  which  she  laughed  heartily,  then  hastily 
added : 

"  But  we  must  be  gettin'  home  to  oncet.  I'll 
step  up  attic  an'  get  a  couple  o'  shawls  to  wrop 
'round  us,  heads  an'  all.  I  do  hope  we  shall  be 
pervented  from  takin'  cold  temptin'  Providence 
the  way  we  have,  at  our  time  o'  life.  Nate,  he 
won't  stir  no  more  to-night.  He's  too  tuckered 
out  an'  too  well  fed.  Sleep's  the  best  medicine  for 
him,  80  we'll  shut  up  quiet  like  an'  start.  But 
where  in  the  world'll  you  get  clothes,  as  you  said  ? 
Man's  clothes,  you  an'  me,  old  women  without  a 
man  betwixt  us,  except  Moses,  an'  it  bein'  kep' 
secret  from  him  still.  If  you  tell  him  he'll  tell 
the  deacon,  an'  what  the  deacon  knows  belongs  to 
the  hull  community." 

"  I'll  find  them,  Susanna ;  I'll  send  an  order 
for  all  he  needs  by  the  morning  stage." 

"  Tell  Reub  Smith !  My  suz !  Might  as  well 
proclaim  it  from  the  church  steeple !  " 

"  No,  indeed.    I  shall  not  tell  him,  but  simply 


288     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

send  an  order  by  him  when  he  goes  to  town  in  the 
morning," 

Then  they  hurried  home,  and  Miss  Maitland 
rested  better  that  night  than  she  had  done  since 
the  children  brought  her  the  brass  bound  box 
from  out  the  forest. 

Next  morning  Monty  "  hooked  schooL"  Not 
that  this  was  an  extraordinary  thing  to  happen, 
although  its  purpose  was  mysterious.  He  did  not 
seek  either  woods  or  river,  for  nuts  or  fishes,  but 
hung  about  the  post-oiRce  till  Reuben  Smith 
drove  tooting  down  South  Hill  into  the  village 
street  on  his  way  outward  toward  the  county 
town.  The  stage  drew  up  with  a  jerk,  Reuben 
stepped  down  with  unusual  liveliness,  and  be- 
hold !  there  were  two  patrons  ready  with  orders 
to  be  executed. 

Miss  Eunice  and  Montgomery  Sturtevant. 
They  faced  each  other  in  mutual  surprise.  Each 
held  a  sealed  letter  in  hand  and  each  was  in 
haste.  The  lady  spoke  first:  "Why,  Monty! 
Is  your  grandmother  trusting  you  to  take  care  of 
her  business  matters  already  ?     That's  fine." 

"N-n-no,  Aunt  Eu-Eu-Eunice.  I-I-I-I  — " 
The  afflicted  lad  had  never  stammered  worse  nor 
seemed  so  uncomfortable. 

Puzzled,  but  too  well-bred  to  pry  into  other 
people's  affairs.  Miss  Maitland  finished  her  di- 
rections to  the  stage-driver  and  general  express 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  289 

agent  for  the  village,  and  went  home.  Mont- 
gomery's relief  at  her  departure  made  Keuben 
laugh,  but  he  liked  the  lad  and  listened  very 
patiently  to  the  almost  endless  details  stammered 
at  him.  Then  he  most  carefully,  with  an  exag- 
gerated caution  indeed,  bestowed  the  fat  envelope 
which  contained  ten  whole  crisp  new  dollars  where 
nobody  but  himself  would  be  apt  to  look  for  it  — 
not  in  the  wallet  with  his  other  commissions,  but 
in  his  boot!  This  gave  the  whole  transaction  a 
touch  of  the  romantic,  and  suggested  possible 
"  hold-ups  "  in  a  way  to  set  Monty's  eyes  a-bulge. 
Then  the  stage  rattled  away  to  the  north,  and  the 
day's  monotony   settled   upon   Marsden   village. 

There  was  much  whispering  that  day  in  school, 
and  a  prompt  departure  from  the  building  at 
close  of  the  afternoon's  session.  It  had  been 
noticeable,  also,  that  at  "  nooning  "  every  scholar, 
old  or  young,  had  repaired  to  the  rear  of  the  play- 
ground, out  of  hearing  of  the  teacher.  There  they 
had  grouped  themselves  about  Katharine  Mait- 
land,  with  Montgomery  Sturtevant  as  her  sup- 
porter, and  had  listened  breathlessly  to  some 
matter  she  divulged.  Only  one  sentence  had 
reached  the  master's  ears,  as  he  tapped  the  bell 
for  them  to  come  in  again  to  later  lessons: 

"  Everybody  don't  forget  a  knife.  And  every- 
body'll  get  an  invitation  to-morrow.  Tlien  every- 
body will  understand,  and  if  everybody  isn't  per- 
fectly delighted)  I  shall  be  surprised.     Teacher 


290  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

will  have  his,  too;  I'm  workin'  on  it  with  nice 
red  ink." 

That  some  exciting  affair  was  on  foot,  and  that 
he  was  to  be  included  in  it  was  evident ;  and  being 
himself  not  many  years  older  than  his  "  big  boys," 
he  was  patiently  indulgent  over  the  many  blun- 
ders at  recitations  which  followed. 

Never  had  llarsden  school  children  arrived 
at  their  respective  homes  so  early,  nor  so  promptly 
availed  themselves  of  parents'  satisfaction  in  this 
promptness.  Books  were  bestowed  in  tidiness, 
lunch-baskets  hung  in  place,  and  in  every  house 
in  the  village  there  was  simultaneously  preferred 
the  request: 

"  May  I  go  out  to  play  ?  " 

Consent  obtained  —  and  what  mother  could 
refuse  it  to  so  deserving  a  petitioner  ?  —  there  fol- 
lowed a  stampede  of  youngsters  toward  Eunice 
Maitland's  south  corn-field. 

Late  October  brings  early  nightfall,  and  even 
playtime  seems  over  with  the  dusk,  but  that  night 
there  were  many,  many  empty  places  at  waiting 
supper-tables,  and  many  mothers'  ears  grew 
anxious  listening  for  the  clatter  of  young  feet 
which  came  not. 

But  the  late  rising  moon  looked  down  upon 
a  curious  scene.  Throughout  that  same  south 
corn-field  had  been  scattered  hundreds  of  golden 
pumpkins  ripe  for  the  harvest;  and  all  among 
them,  each  with  his  or  her  allotted  pile  of  the 


"  BUT     THE     LATE    RISING    MOON    LOOKED    DOWN    UPON    A 
CURIOUS    SCENE  " 


WHAT   THE   MOON   SAW  291 

great  fruit,  was  every  truant  youngster.  Corn 
shocks  had  been  overturned  for  the  more  comfort- 
able seating  of  the  toilers,  and  knives  gleamed 
in  the  moon-rays  as  the  diligent  fingers  fashioned 
Jack-o'-lanterns  sufficient  in  number,  as  Monty 
declared,  to  "  1-1-light  the  w-w-wh-whole  world !  " 


CHAPTER   XX. 


UNINVITED    GUESTS 


Kathakine  escaped  the  chiding  she  deserved 
because,  when  she  reentered  the  house,  Miss 
Eunice  was  engaged  with  company  and  Susanna 
was  preparing  a  tray  of  refreshments  to  be  served 
the  guests.  Montgomery  escaped  because  Madam 
supposed  he  had  been  at  The  Maples  where  so 
much  of  his  time  was  now  passed.  He  went 
supperless  to  bed,  but  Katharine,  most  guilty  of 
all  delinquents,  fared  sumptuously  upon  a  por- 
tion of  the  dainties  from  the  housekeeper's  "  com- 
pany tray."  The  Turner  trio  of  culprits  ate 
wedges  of  cold  pumpkin  pie,  eaten  standing  by  the 
kitchen  sink,  and  went  to  bed  to  dream  that  all 
the  world  was  made  of  pumpkins  which  it  was 
their  destiny  to  consume  before  a  general  illu- 
mination began.  At  least,  that  was  what  Martha 
dreamed,  and,  having  roused  the  other  pair  to 
relate  it  to  them,  they  were  sleepy  enough  to 
believe  they  had  dreamed  it,  too. 

Other  children  —  But  why  prolong  the  story  ? 
Many  of  the  pumpkin  artists  had  reason  to  re- 
292 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  293 

member  that  night  for  some  time  to  come;  yet 
not  one  ever  admitted  that  they  had  not  found 
their  fun  outweigh  their  punishment. 

Some  days  previous  Katharine  had  put  a  very 
mild  request  to  Aunt  Eunice,  in  the  words: 

"  Aunty,  would  you  mind  if  I  had  a  little 
Hallowe'en  party  ?  Out  in  the  barn,  where  it 
wouldn't  be  any  trouble  to  anybody  ?  " 

And  the  lady,  always  glad  to  make  her  young 
charge  happy,  had  replied: 

"  Why,  no,  dear.  Certainly,  you  may  have 
one  if  you  wish." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  thank  you,  you  darling  Atmty 
Eunice !  "  springing  up  to  hug  her  guardian 
ecstatically.  Then,  with  her  young  cheek  against 
the  older  one :  "  And  would  it  be  too  much  to 
ask  —  Deacon  Meakin  to  —  to  stay  away  that 
day?" 

"  Why,  Katharine,  that  couldn't  be.  Besides 
giving  him  offence,  how  could  we  spare  him  ?  " 

"  Monty  and  I  could  do  the  chores.  Bob  Tur- 
ner could  milk.  Bob's  a  first-rate  milker,  Martha 
says  80." 

"  Well,  well.  Maybe  it  can  be  arranged.  I'll 
see." 

"  Because,  Aunt  Eunice,  it's  to  be  such  a  beauti- 
ful benefit  to —  Oh,  I  forgot.  But  if  he  could 
stay  at  home  just  once ;  he's  so  what  Widow  calls 
*  pernickity,' .  and  he  says  children  ought  to  be 


294  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

born  '  growed  up.'  They  can't  be  that,  can  they  ? 
So  I  do  think,  I  just  do  think  they  might  be  let 
to  have  some  nice  times  without  folks  scolding 
and  acting  hateful." 

"  The  deacon  doesn't  mean  to  be  hateful,  Katy. 
We'll  see." 

Fortune  favored  the  child  as  it  so  often  did. 
After  a  particularly  wearisome  contest  of  wills 
between  the  original  hired  man  and  his  successor, 
the  deacon  resigned  his  position  and  left  in  a 
huff.  A  neighboring  youth  was  sent  for  to  take 
his  place,  but,  as  far  from  being  a  hindrance  to 
Katharine's  schemes,  proved  her  very  best  ally. 
Montgomery  knew  William  well,  and  his  wheed- 
ling, if  stammering,  tongue  soon  persuaded  the 
young  man  that  in  furthering  the  success  of  the 
jjarty  he  was  furthering  his  employer's  also. 

In  due  time  every  boy  and  girl  in  the  township 
received  a  laboriously  written  invitation,  and  all 
accepted,  of  course.  This  was  understood  with- 
out the  trouble  of  replies. 

Even  the  schoolmaster  was  not  forgotten, 
though  he  waited  until  school  was  dismissed  be- 
fore he  opened  his  neatly  folded  bit  of  paper,  and 
read: 

"  The  favor  of  your  presence  is  requested  at 
the  Big  Barn  of  Miss  Eunice  Maitland  at  The 
Maples,   on  the  evening  of  October  31st,   to   a 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  295 

Hallowe'en  Corkis.  At  seven  o'clock  by  the 
church  steeple.  Please  bring  your  teaspoon  with 
you. 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

"  Kathabine  Maitland." 

This  unique  invitation  was  the  joint  produc- 
tion of  Katharine  and  Montgomery.  The  first 
part  was  hers,  recalled  from  wedding-cards  often 
seen  at  her  old  home  in  the  city;  the  latter  part 
was  due  to  Monty's  forethought.  Katharine  had 
never  heard  of  a  "  corkis ;  "  but,  by  way  of  dab- 
bling in  politics  through  loiterings  at  the  village 
store,  the  boy  had  acquired  some  technical  terms, 
and  insisted  that  this  was  what  best  befitted  their 
case.  As  he  could  not  spell  the  word,  and  she 
couldn't  find  it  in  the  dictionary,  though  she 
searched  all  the  "  Cor "  columns  through,  she 
adopted  phonetic  spelling  with  the  above  result. 
Also,  since  there  was  as  much  variety  in  "  time  " 
as  there  was  in  clocks,  the  guests  were  advised 
to  regulate  their  arrivals  by  the  biggest  one  visible. 
As  to  the  teaspoon  clause  —  that  was  positively 
necessary.  "  How  could  a  boy  eat  ice-cream  with- 
out a  spoon  ?  And  how  could  anybody,  even  Aunt 
Eunice,  who  had  a  trunk  full  of  silver,  lend  a 
body  spoons  enough  to  go  around,  admitting  that 
one  dared  ask  for  them  ?  For  if  everybody  came 
who  was  asked,  and  everybody  certainly  would 
since  they  hadn't  been  polite  enough  to  send  re- 


296     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

grets  (even  before  the  cards  were  out),  what 
would  a  body  do,  I  should  like  to  know  ?  " 

As  there  was  altogether  too  much  body  in  this 
argument  for  Montgomery  he  yielded  the  point 
and  waited  the  great  event  with  what  patience 
he  might.  Not  so  much  patience  was  required, 
however,  since  there  was  much  labor  to  accom- 
plish. William  hitched  up  the  team,  thoughtfully 
taking  an  opportunity  when  Miss  Maitland  had 
gone  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  distant  Mansion,  and 
brought  the  field  full  of  Jack-o'-lanterns  up  to  the 
barn;  into  which,  carefully  keeping  the  sound 
sides  of  the  pumpkins  toward  the  kitchen  windows 
and  Susanna's  eyes,  he  conveyed  them.  Then 
the  doors  were  closed  and  the  decorating  began. 

"  C-c-can't  make  'em  hang,"  lamented  Mont- 
gomery, after  a  few  moments'  unsuccessful  effort. 

''  Course  not.  That  string's  too  light.  Wait. 
I'll  fetch  something,"  said  Katharine,  as  deco- 
rator in  charge.  Then  she  sped  into  the  house  and 
borrowed  Susanna's  clothes-line. 

"  My  clothes-line,  child  ?    What  on  earth  for?  " 

"  Oh,  yovi'll  see  sometime.  I  sha'n't  hurt  it !  " 
returned  the  eager  girl,  skipping  away. 

The  widow  was  glad  to  have  "  the  children  " 
out  of  the  way  for  the  time  being.  She,  also,  was 
planning  a  "  surprise,"  for  Eunice  had  told  her 
of  Katharine's  "  little  Hallowe'en  party,"  and  the 
good  housekeeper  determined  that  not  a  single 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  297 

young  guest  should  return  home  after  that  event 
without  carrying  a  report  of  a  fine  repast. 

As  she  said  to  Moses,  when  fixing  him  up  for  the 
day: 

"  It  does  seem  good  after  all  our  worries  lately 
to  do  somethin'  just  plain  plumb  foolish,  like  let- 
tin'  young  ones  have  a  nice  time.  Me  an'  Eunice, 
we  have  more  on  our  minds  'an  we  let  on  to  you, 
but  I'm  goin'  to  forget  'em." 

"  Forgettin'  your  mind  won't  be  no  great  job, 
nor  loss  nuther.  Wouldn't  be  much  matter  if 
'twasn't  never  found  again,"  he  retorted,  half- 
facetiously,  and  half-vexed  that,  as  she  hinted, 
there  were  still  confidences  withheld  from  him. 

Susanna  ignored  his  playfulness,  and  went  on 
as  if  he  had  not  interrupted : 

"  I'm  goin'  to  make  jumbles,  an'  little  frosted 
cakes,  an'  teeny-tiny  riz  biscuit,  an'  raisin-loaf. 
I've  got  a  ham  on  b'ilin',  an'  —  my  suz !  It  most 
makes  me  feel  a  dozen  years  younger,  just  the 
mere  idee  of  bavin'  a  childern's  party.  We  hain't 
had  none  sence  Johnny  run  away,  an'  —  " 

"  Oh,  hum !  An'  here  I  must  lie  like  a  log  o' 
wood  an'  no  share  in  it.  Me  that  always  thought 
more  of  young  ones  'an  you  did.  Anyhow,  I 
don't  see  what  great  call  you  got  to  mix  up  in  it. 
S'pose  you  expect  to  be  invited,  don't  you  ?  What 
you  goin'  to  wear?  White  with  pink  ribbons, 
like  all  the  other  little  girls?"  demanded  the 
imprisoned  man. 


298     THE  BRASS  BOUND  BOX 

"  Well,  I  hain't  thought  much  about  my  clothes, 
but  I  did  lay  out  to  wear  my  common  sense  an* 
trim  it  with  a  wreath  o'  good  nature,  an'  maybe 
a  sprig  of  patience  fastenin'  the  hull,  Never 
mind,  Moses.  Maybe  you'll  get  more  share  in  it 
'an  I  shall.  Somethin'  may  happen  to  keep  me 
from  enjoyin'  myself  any  more'n  you  are  this 
minute.  An'  —  my  suz !  I  smell  that  ham  water 
b'ilin'  over  this  instant.  An'  —  what  next ! 
There's  Kitty  Keehoty  comin'  out  the  tool-house 
with  that  roll  o'  grapevine  wire  that  you  put  away 
so  careful  —  an'  it's  most  more'n  she  can  lug. 
But  she'd  tackle  it.  She'd  tackle  it  if  it  was 
twieet  as  heavy.  She's  got  more  ambition  an' 
gumption  than  ary  young  one  I  ever  knowed.  My 
suz !  She  couldn't  carry  it,  after  all,  so  she's  put 
it  do^\Ti  an'  is  draggin'  it.  She  looks  a  pictur' ! 
Her  hair  blowin'  all  'round  her  head,  her  cheeks 
like  roses,  her  feet  fairly  dancin'  with  happiness, 
her  eyes  like  stars.  Well,  a  body'd  ought  to  take 
a  bit  o'  trouble,  now  an'  then,  whilst  they're  little. 
It  does  take  such  a  mere  mite  to  make  childern 
pleased.     She  —  " 

Poor  Uncle  Moses  could  bear  no  more.  There 
had  never  been  so  many  interesting  things  hap- 
pening as  since  he  had  been  in  bed,  unable  to  take 
part  in  them.  Within  his  age-worn  body  beat  the 
heart  of  a  little  child,  and  he  was  nearly  frantic, 
imagining  what  might  be  going  on  beyond  those 
closed  barn  doors  and  he  shut  out. 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  299 

"  Clear  out,  Susanna  Sprigg.  Get  away  from 
that  winder.  Don't  ye  let  me  hear  another  word 
about  that  party.  If  a  miracle  happens  so's  I 
can  go  to  it,  all  right.  If  not  —  the  sooner  you 
look  after  that  ham  the  better." 

Susanna  turned  from  the  pane,  saying  quite 
gently : 

"  I  don't  know  as  the  days  of  miracles  is  past. 
Seems  if  there  was  some  been  done  right  here  in 
Marsden  township.  I  am  sorry  for  ye,  Moses. 
I'd  almost  ruther  stay  to  home  myself  than  have 
you  miss  the  fun.  -Maybe  you  won't.  Maybe 
a  fresh  miracle  will  be  done.  Maybe  I  shall  see 
you  the  chief  sinner  in  the  synagogue,  I  mean 
the  most  invited  comp'ny —  My  suz!  You 
know  what  I  mean  better'n  I  can  say  it.  I'll 
fetch  you  up  a  sandwich,  soon's  that  ham  is 
cooked." 

She  hurried  below,  and  the  unhappy  hired  man 
turned  his  face  from  the  light  and  went  to  sleep, 
or  tried  to,  though  the  odors  of  good  things  wafted 
to  him  from  the  kitchen  beneath  kept  his  thoughts 
on  the  disturbing  party  and  angered  him  against 
the  two  children  he  loved. 

"  Should  ha'  thought  they'd  waited  till  I  was  up 
an'  'round  again.  'Twouldn't  have  hurt  'em  an' 
Would  ha'  been  showing  some  decent  feelin'  fer 
me,"  he  grumbled.  And  little  did  the  old  man 
dream  that  he  was,  indeed,  the  very  heart  and 
centre  of  the  whole  festivity ! 


300     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

Oh,  what  a  day  that  was !  The  toilers  in  the 
barn  sent  in  word  that  they  were  too  busy  to 
stop  for  any  dinner,  and  Susanna  retorted  that 
she  was  herself  fully  too  busy  to  cook  it  for  them. 
Everybody  had  a  slice  of  bread  and  butter  and 
a  glass  of  milk,  which  didn't  take  a  minute  to  dis- 
pose of.  Even  the  mistress,  who  had  returned, 
fared  thus. 

That  afternoon  Reuben  Smith  tooted  up  to  Miss 
Maitland's  front  gate  and  handed  out  a  paste- 
board box,  very  large  and  weighty,  which  Susanna 
hastily  received  and  carried  into  the  house. 
There  it  was  hurriedly  opened  behind  closed  doors 
by  Aunt  Eunice,  with  her  housemate  to  assist, 
and  was  found  to  contain  a  new  suit  of  men's 
clothing,  with  all  accessories  needful. 

"  I'll  carry  them  to  poor  Nathan  at  once,  and 
make  sure  he  puts  them  on.  Then,  if  you're  will- 
ing, we'll  light  a  fire  in  your  stove  and  burn  all 
his  old  rags,"  said  the  mistress. 

"  Not  alone,  Eunice  Maitland,  not  alone !' " 
cried  the  old  housekeeper,  who  wouldn't  have 
missed  this  business  if  all  the  jumbles  she  had 
made  had  burned  themselves  to  a  crisp.  Fortu- 
nately, they  were  out  of  the  way,  and  though  she 
had  mixed  dough  for  raisin-cake  she  hadn't  yet 
put  in  "  the  lightenin'."  "  If  we  start  to  oncet 
there  ain't  nothin'  to  harm,  an'  the  childern's  so 
busy  they'll  never  notice.     Moses  is  asleep.    Let's 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  301 

go  right  awaj.  My  suz !  Seems  if  I  couldn't  wait 
to  make  that  poor  feller  into  a  decent  man !  " 

As  excited  and  eager  over  their  own  secret  as 
the  young  folks  over  theirs,  they  seized  bonnets 
and  wraps,  and,  carrying  the  box  between  them, 
slipped  unobserved  from  the  house  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  woods. 

Thus  it  chanced  that  they  did  not  see  what  an 
unusual  thing  the  stage-driver  did;  how  that, 
leaving  Miss  Maitland's  parcel  at  the  front  of  the 
house,  he  drove  by  a  roundabout  lane  to  the  back 
door  of  the  bam,  and  there  set  down,  with  Will- 
iam's help,  two  barrel-like  tubs,  weighty  with 
broken  ice  and  carefully  covered  with  bits  of  old 
carpet.  Similar  tubs  had  sometimes  been  brought 
to  Marsden  by  the  same  messenger,  but  only  for 
such  occasions  as  the  Fourth  of  July  or  the  Sun- 
day-school picnic.  Never  before  for  any  private 
function,  and  the  news  of  the  present  arrival 
spread  swiftly  through  the  village,  suggesting  to 
interested  parents  that,  though  themselves  unin- 
vited, it  might  be  as  well  to  go  along  and  see 
what  the  children  were  doing! 

And  it  came  at  last !  The  delightful  hour,  the 
culmination  of  all  this  preparation.  At  last,  at 
last,  the  wheezy  clock  in  the  church  steeple  an- 
nounced that  it  was  seven  o'clock! 

Then  from  out  the  many  homes  of  Marsden 
and  its  by-ways  issued  the  eager  guests.  Girls  in 
white  frocks;    boys  in  Sunday  suits;    all  uncora- 


302  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

f ortable  in  freshly  donned  winter  flannels  —  since 
this  was  to  be  a  sort  of  out-doors  party  and  there 
must  be  no  afterclaps  of  croup;  and  elders  in 
their  second-best  attire,  worn  with  an  affected 
indifference  of  its  just  happening  so. 

Said  Mrs.  Turner  to  Mrs.  Clackett :  "  Course 
we  wasn't  asked.  It's,  just  a  children's  party  that 
Johnny  Maitland's  little  girl  is  giving  as  a  sort 
of  youngsters'  '  infair.'  Pa  and  me  thought  'twas 
better  to  come  along  and  see  the  children  got  there 
safe,  them  not  being  used  to  going  out  evenings." 

To  which  her  neighbor  replied :  "  Yes,  we  feel 
that  way  about  our  girls  and  boy.  But  I  confess, 
we're  sort  of  curious  to  know  what  the  '  Corkis ' 
part  of  the  invitation  means.  Clackett,  he  says 
he  guesses  Katy  meant  '  caucus,'  but  that  don't 
throw  no  more  light  on  the  matter,  if  it  does. 
What  on  earth  a  lot  of  young  ones  want  with  a 
'  caucus,'  beats  me.  But  here  we  are,  and  — 
My !     Isn't  it  pretty  ?  " 

Pretty  it  was,  and  far,  far  more  than  pretty. 
To  these  unused  eyes  such  a  scene  as  might  have 
come  from  fairyland.  Even  to  Aunt  Eunice, 
newly  admitted,  the  old  barn  seemed  an  unknown 
spot ;  and  she  sat  enthroned  upon  her  seat  of 
honor  —  an  oat-bin  transformed  by  cushions  of 
straw  and  sheaves  of  corn  —  amazed  but  equally 
delighted.  The  whole  great  structure  was  ablaze 
with  radiance.  Susanna's  clothes-line  and  Moses' 
grapevine   wire   supported   grinning  Jacks   innu- 


UNINVITED    GUESTS  303 

merable.  The  glowing  yellow  heads  looked  down 
from  rafter  and  beam,  peeped  from  the  stalls, 
dangled  from  stanchions.  Between  them  gleamed 
also  oddly  shaped  Chinese  lanterns,  and  these 
were  a  form  of  illumination  wholly  new  to  that 
inland  village.  There  were  sheaves  and  vines  and 
branches  everywhere,  and  those  who  observed 
could  scarcely  believe  that  the  whole  transforma- 
tion, save  and  beyond  the  carving  of  the  pump- 
kins, had  been  wrought  by  three  pairs  of  young 
hands. 

What  cared  happy  Kitty  Keehoty  that  of  all 
her  crisp  ten  dollars  there  remained  but  thirteen 
cents  ?  Hadn't  they  paid  for  all  these  shining 
candles,  those  tubs  of  cream,  the  grotesque  lan- 
terns which  her  new  friends  so  admired,  and 
the  heaps  of  candy  on  the  table  at  the  far  end 
of  the  great  floor  ?  The  table  was  improvised  by 
a  couple  of  planks  laid  upon  barrels  and  covered 
by  a  cloth  borrowed  from  the  linen  closet.  It 
would  have  been  covered  with  nothing  else,  save 
the  candy  and  a  pile  of  wooden  plates  for  the 
cream,  had  not  Susanna  produced  her  own  sur- 
prise —  in  such  stores  of  cakes  and  sandwiches 
and  toothsome  dainties  as  made  the  small  giver 
of  the  function  open  her  own  eyes  in  amazement. 

Oh,  how  delightful  it  all  was !  And  didn't  the 
pleasure  in  so  many  faces  more  than  pay  for  the 
ten  dollars  spent  and  the  proudly  weary  widow's 
hours  at  an  oven  door? 


304  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

But  how  they  came!  So  fast,  so  eager,  so 
cordially  willing  to  be  pleased !  All  the  young 
guests  who  had  been  bidden  by  such  a  painful  out- 
lay of  pen  and  ink,  and  all  their  fathers  and  their 
mothers,  "  their  uncles  and  their  aunts  and  their 
cousins !  "  All  the  merrier,  all  the  better,  all 
the  surer  of  success !  For  the  best  was  yet  to 
come.  The  delicious,  ambitious,  loving  secret 
scheme  which  had  originated  in  the  teeming 
brain  of  Kitty  Keehoty,  and,  aided  and  abetted 
by  Montgomery,  her  knight,  was  now  to  be 
divulged. 

''  My  —  suz !  "  quoth  Susanna,  dismayed  by 
the  vast  proportions  of  Katharine's  "  little  party," 
"  however  —  shall  I  give  such  a  multitude  —  even 
a  bite  apiece  ?  " 

"  I'll  help !  "  cried  Mrs.  Clackett,  quite  under- 
standing "  a  bite  apiece "  meant  no  personal 
violence.  "  I've  lots  of  stuff  baked  at  home.  I'll 
fetch  a  basket  of  it  in  a  jiffy." 

"  I,  too !  "  echoed  Mrs.  Turner,  and  the  pair 
set  briskly  homeward  in  neighborly  kindness. 
Other  matrons,  not  to  be  outdone,  also  disappeared 
from  the  assembly  for  a  brief  time;  and  soon 
thereafter  William  was  called  upon  to  improvise 
another  table,  till  both  were  groaning  with  the 
weight  of  good  things. 

"  My !  It's  most  like  a  Sunday-school  picnic, 
ain't  it  ?  "  exclaimed  the  village  seamstress,  who 
at  seventy  years  still  had  the  same  innocent  en- 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  305 

joyment  in  such  affairs  as  she  had  had  at  seven. 
"  But,  hush  !     Somethin's  a-doin' !  " 

Something  was  certainly  "  a-doing !  "  There 
was  a  great  bustle  and  stir  at  the  double  doors 
and  in  came  Deacon  Meakin,  William,  Mr. 
Clackett,  and  the  schoolmaster,  carrying  a  cot 
between  them  on  which  lay  Moses  Jones,  at  last 
minus  his  ball  and  chain,  and  feeling  as  if  he 
didn't  know  himself  —  so  utterly  amazed  was 
he.  Amid  a  sudden  outringing  cheer  the  cot  was 
carefully  deposited  in  an  open  space  that  had 
been  kept  for  it,  close  beside  that  throne  where 
Eunice  still  sat  smiling  in  gracious  hospitality. 

The  fresh  excitement  incident  to  this  arrival 
had  scarcely  died,  when  Madam  Sturtevant  ap- 
peared, with  her  small  handmaid  in  train.  The 
lady  had  been  somewhat  doubtful  about  accepting 
the  invitation  for  herself,  having  been  informed 
by  her  grandson  that,  outside  The  Maples'  family, 
she  was  the  only  grown-up  so  favored  except  the 
schoolmaster;  and  she  was  more  than  doubtful 
for  Alfaretta.  For  a  time  the  anxious  girl's  fate 
hung  in  the  balance.  It  did  not  strike  Madam  as 
just  the  correct  thing  to  take  a  servant  —  Alfy 
was  really  that,  of  course  —  to  a  Maitland  party. 
Yet  the  child  had  just  as  good  blood  in  her  veins 
as  many  others  who  would  attend,  even  if  her  lot 
in  life  were  less  fortunate.  Besides,  was  it  right 
to  disturb  her  quiet  habits  by  such  frivolity  ? 
While  the  matter  was  pending,  Alfaretta  could 


306  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

only  calm  her  perturbed  mind  by  gathering  every 
belated  daisy  she  conld  find  and  testing  her  for- 
tune upon  its  white  petals.  "  Shall  I  be  let  to 
go  ?  Shall  I  not  ?  "  Mostly,  the  daisies  said : 
"  I  shall !  "  Yet  it  was  old  Whitey  who,  after 
all,  decided  the  question. 

That  mild-eyed  bovine  had  the  spirit  of  an 
Arab  steed.  Had  she  been  born  a  colt  and  not  a 
calf  she  would  have  "  pricked  it  o'er  the  plain  " 
with  the  best  of  her  race;  but  being  merely  a 
somewhat  venerable  cow,  she  could  only  wander. 
In  the  wide  fields  still  surrounding  the  Mansion 
there  was  sufiicient  pasturage  for  many  cows, 
and  certainly  too  much  for  one ;  so  there  was  not 
the  slightest  reason  why  she  should  trespass  upon 
village  dooryards  except  the  fact  that  she  delighted 
to  do  so.  Broken  gates,  which  there  was  nobody 
to  repair,  made  wandering  easy;  and  it  may  be 
that  she  had,  in  part,  acquired  the  habit  in  the 
days  of  her  youth,  when  Verplanck  Sturtevant 
had  'tended  her  as  his  son  did  now.  Both  masters 
were  far  better  content  elsewhere  than  at  home, 
and  Whitey  fully  shared  their  preferences.  She 
had  wandered  again,  some  two  days  since,  and  had 
not  returned  at  nightfall,  as  was  her  habit.  There- 
fore, remembering  that  at  the  "  Hallowe'en 
Corkis  "  there  would  be  many  children  assembled, 
and  that  children  "  know  everything  "  of  village 
happenings.  Madam  had  come,  meaning  to  ask  for 
news. 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  307 


So  the  daisies  had  it,  truly ;  and  to  the  young 
bond-maid  the  longed-for  happiness  had  been 
given. 

When  Madam  had  been  assigned  a  place  be- 
side Miss  Eunice,  and  the  murmur  of  voices  had 
recommenced,  somebody  struck  a  bell  and  every 
ear  and  eye  became  attentive.  Katharine  did 
not  know  whether  this  were  the  approved  method 
of  bringing  a  "  Corkis  "  to  silence,  but  it  was  one 
that  served  in  school  and  proved  to  do  so  here. 
While  the  silence  lasted  and  the  crowding  guests 
craned  their  necks  forward,  she  was  seen  to  lead, 
push,  or  in  some  manner  propel  a  reluctant  boy 
toward  a  ladder  resting  against  the  hay-mow  and 
in  full  sight  of  most. 

The  boy  was  Montgomery,  of  course,  and  he 
was  positively  shaking  with  fright;  but  the  girl 
whispered  something  in  his  ear  — "  For  Uncle 
Mose !  "  and  he  rallied  to  his  duty.  Tossing  off 
her  guiding  hand,  he  ran  to  the  ladder,  mounted 
it  half-way,  and  faced  about  upon  the  multitude. 
He  had  been  well  tutored.  He  fixed  his  eyes  not 
upon  the  faces  below  but  at  an  exalted  roof-beam, 
and  addressing  that  began : 

"  Girls  and  boys,  gentlemen  and  ladies :  You 
have  been  invited  here  to-night  to  enjoy  your- 
selves and  to  make  somebody  else  enjoy  himself. 
That  somebody  is  Uncle  Moses  Jones,  whom  we  all 
love,  and  who  has  had  lots  of  trouble  and  broken 
bones  lately.    Next  Tuesday  is  going  to  be  election 


308  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

when  our  fathers  and  mothers  vote,  or  —  or  — 
fathers  do,  anyway.  If  we  ask  our  folks  to  do 
things  they  generally  do  them.  What  I  ask  now 
is  that  every  one  of  you  shall  ask  your  father  to 
vote  for  Uncle  Mose  to  be  constable,  and  I  now 
nomernate  him  to  be  a  constable.  All  in  favor  of 
his  being  constable  —  say  '  aye  !  '  " 

Amid  the  uproar  of  "  ayes "  that  followed 
Monty  jumped  headlong  from  his  rostrum  and 
would  have  run  straight  to  his  grandmother,  had 
not  Kitty  Keehoty  caught  him  midway  and  hugged 
him  her  stoutest,  crying :  "  Oh,  you  splendid- 
est  brave  boy!  You  did  it,  you  did  it!  You 
never  tripped  once.  You  never  stuttered  a  single 
stutter  from  beginning  to  end !  Who  says  you 
sha'n't  be  President  some  day,  an'  be  nomernated 
in  a  grown-up  corkis  ?  But  —  my  sake,  Mont- 
gomery Sturtevant !  You  forgot  the  most  im- 
portant part.  I'll  have  to  say  that  myself, 
'cause  it's  that  will  count.  That  will  be  the 
promise." 

Another  stroke  of  Aunt  Eunice's  table-bell  and 
a  white-clad  little  figure  was  in  Monty's  place 
upon  the  ladder,  holding  up  her  hand  for  close 
attention.  Without  preliminary  she  informed  the 
audience  that  there  was  one  thing  had  been  for- 
gotten, and  that  was  "  the  cranberries." 

"  Right  by  the  head  of  the  table  is  a  basket  of 
cranberries.  A  cranberry  is  a  promise.  There's 
another  empty  basket  beside  the  full  one.     Every- 


UNINVITED   GUESTS  309 

body,  girl  or  boy,  who  wants  Uncle  Moses  to  be 
constable  must  take  a  cranberry  out  one  basket 
and  drop  it  into  the  other ;  and  —  those  who  don't 
drop  cranberries  cant  have  —  ice-cream !  " 

Squire  Petti  John  had  come  —  in  a  case  of 
general  town  interest  as  this  seemed  to  be  it  was 
important  the  great  man  should  be  present  — 
and  it  was  he  who  cried  so  loudly ;  "  Hear ! 
Hear!"  and  it  was  he,  also,  who  started  the 
laughter  which  followed,  and  pinched  Kate's 
cheek  as  she  passed  him,  saying  something  about 
"  intimidation  "  and  "  lobbying,"  at  which  there 
was  more  laughter  —  Katy  wondering  why. 

But  the  laughter  did  not  continue  long,  since 
it  was  surely  now  time  for  supper;  and,  having 
swiftly  decided  that  however  little  she  might  like 
him,  yet  the  Squire's  influence  might  be  a  powerful 
factor  in  carrying  out  this  secretly  designed  plan 
of  the  children's.  Miss  Eunice  was  just  descending 
from  her  oat-bin  throne  to  ask  him  to  open  the 
feast,  when  another  slight  commotion  occurred 
near  the  door.  A  woman  screamed,  and  every 
eye  turned  upon  two  tardy  and  uninvited  guests, 
who,  leading  each  other  as  it  were,  now  entered 
the  scene. 

Whitey,  the  cow,  and  Nate  Pettijohn  —  tramp ! 


CHAPTER   XXL 

A    NEIGHBORLY    TRICK   OF    THE    WIND 

The  silence  which  followed  lasted  for  a  long 
time,  during  which  Whitey  stared  mildly  about 
upon  her  many  acquaintances  as  if  daring  one 
of  them  to  accuse  her  of  vagrancy.  Nathan, 
newly  clothed  and  decent  of  apparel,  but,  as  to 
unkempt  hair  and  besmirched  skin,  still  unmistak- 
ably the  tramp,  let  his  wild,  frightened  eyes  roam 
ceaselessly  from  one  guest  to  another  till,  finally, 
they  fixed  their  gaze  upon  one  face  and  rested 
there. 

The  face  was  that  of  Squire  Pettijohn,  hitherto 
complacent,  self-satisfied  village  magnate.  Now 
suddenly  grown  haggard  and  old,  confronting  that 
other  face  so  curiously  like  his  own.  His  son ! 
Whose  scant  intelligence  had  always  been  a  shame 
to  him  and  because  of  which  he  had  given  neglect 
where  care  should  have  been.  Whom  he  had  been 
secretly  thankful  to  lose  and  whom  he  had  hoped 
would  never  again  be  found. 

But  he  had  found  himself,  and  for  a  time  the 
misguided  parent  arid  most  unhappy  child  studied 
310 


A   TRICK   OF   THE   WIND  311 

each  other  in  mutual  shrinking  and  dismay.  All 
the  adult  guests  recognized  poor  Nathan,  now 
restored  to  the  outward  semblance  of  the  decent 
citizen  he  had  once  been,  and  understood  how  it 
was  that  in  their  fleeting  glimpses  of  the  recent 
"  tramp "  there  had  been  something  puzzlingly 
familiar.  The  children  gathered  in  knots,  staring 
and  quiet,  and  more  than  half-afraid.  Uncon- 
sciously they  felt  that  here  was  tragedy  where  but 
a  moment  since  had  been  their  merry  comedy. 

Then  Katharine,  as  little  lady  of  the  feast,  re- 
solved to  end  this  dreadful  silence  which  was 
spoiling  all  the  fun;  and,  running  to  Nathan's 
side,  took  his  hand  in  hers  and  led  him  forward, 
saying: 

"  This  is  a  friend  of  mine,  people,  and  he's  just 
in  time  for  supper.  I  know  him  very  well.  I 
spent  an  afternoon  with  him  down  by  the  river, 
and  you  ought  to  know  him,  too.  Uncle  Moses, 
'cause  he's  such  a  good  fisher." 

Then  she  pushed  Nathan's  soiled  hand  toward 
the  man  on  the  cot,  who  hesitated  for  one  second, 
glancing  toward  the  Squire's  set  face,  then 
grasped  it  cordially,  exclaiming: 

"Why,  Nate,  hello!  When'd  you  come  to 
town?  Hain't  never  lost  your  vote,  have  ye? 
'Cause  I  'low  you'll  have  to  cast  it  for  me  for 
constable  next  Tuesday,  sence  I've  just  been  nom- 
eraated  for  the  office.     Hey  ?  " 

The  tramp's  eyes  left  his  father's  person  and 


312  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

looked  down  upon  the  genial,  helpless  man  beside 
him,  and  a  slow  smile  stole  into  them. 

"  Hello,  Uncle  Mose.  I've  got  here  —  eh  ?  " 
"  Yes,  you've  got  here,  got  home,  all  right. 
Better  stay  now.  We're  all  —  I  say  we're  all 
glad  to  see  ye.  Marsden  ain't  such  a  big  com- 
munity she  can  afford  to  lose  anybody.  Where' d 
ye  hail  from,  anyway  ?  " 

The  hired  man  had  grasped  the  situation 
promptly.  Kecognizing  Nathan,  he  also  recog- 
nized, as  he  supposed,  the  solution  of  the  mysteries 
which  had  surrounded  him  of  late.  Eunice  and 
Susanna  had  found  the  vagrant  out,  and  had  kept 
his  identity  secret,  fearing  the  Squire.  Now  to 
Moses'  intense  satisfaction  in  his  nomination  — 
irregular  though  it  was  —  was  added  the  reflection 
that  no  harm  could  result,  since  at  present 
there  was  no  constable  in  Marsden,  nor  would 
be  one  until  he  himself  was  elected.  He  would 
be  elected,  of  course.  There  was  now  no  doubt 
of  that.  Kitty  Keehoty,  bless  her!  had  put 
her  small  hand  to  the  wheel  of  fortune  and 
given  it  a  whirl  which  was  fast  sending  all 
good  things  his  way.  Then,  if  he  was  so 
favored,  should  his  first  official  act  be  the  punish- 
ment of  a  fellow  townsman  ?  A  fishing  towns- 
man, at  that  ?  Not  if  he,  Moses  Jones,  knew  him- 
self ;  and  though  he  was  still  a  "  bedrid  block  o' 
wood,"  the  block  was  fast  repairing  and  would 
soon  be  as  good  as  a  freshly  growing  tree. 


A   TEICK    OF   THE   WIND  313 

"  From  —  from  him.  From  Planck.  I  —  I 
come  to  bring  the  box.  But  —  I  lost  it.  Oh, 
Madam !  he  sent  it  to  you  —  he  was  dyin'  then  — 
and  I've  lost  it  —  I've  lost  it!  Planck'll  be  mad. 
He'll  scowl  and  talk —  Has  anybody  seen 
Planck's  box  ?  " 

The  forlorn  fellow  had  left  Moses'  side  and 
crossed  to  where  Madam  Sturtevant  sat  rigidly 
upon  her  elevated  throne.  The  memories  this 
returned  wanderer  had  roused  in  her  were  so 
painful  that  they  seemed  to  strangle  her.  Her 
throat  grew  dry,  her  lips  parched,  and  her  gaze 
was  glued  to  the  face  of  the  vagrant  who  had  been 
her  lost  son's  chosen  companion,  vassal,  possible 
friend.     Why,  why  had  he  come  ? 

Eunice  laid  her  hand  on  the  gentlewoman's  arm. 
She  felt  that  this  tension  must  be  loosed,  even  at 
the  cost  of  fresh  pain.  "  Elinor,"  said  she,  "  you 
have  borne  much.  Can  you  endure  a  further 
shock  ?  it  may  be  of  fresh  sorrow,  but  it  may  be 
of  joy.  Your  brass  bound  box  is  found.  Nathan 
brought  itj  Katharine  found  it,  I  have  it." 

Squire  Pettijohn  coughed,  and  strode  majestic- 
ally forward.  He  was  once  more  the  man  of  posi- 
tion who  must  see  to  it  that  his  townsmen's 
interests  were  protected.  This  woman  had  ma- 
ligned him.  He  had  heard  that  she  complained 
of  his  usuries,  that  he  had  taken  advantage  of  her 
misfortunes,  that  he  was  a  hard  and  cruel  man. 
Worst  of  all  to  him  —  had  said  that  he  was  not 


314     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

a  gentleman!  Conquering  his  disappointment  at 
Nathan's  return,  he  improved  his  opportunity  of 
punishing  and  humbling  her. 

"  Madam  Sturtevant,  ah  —  er  —  hm-m  —  at 
the  time  your  guilty  son  disappeared,  taking  my 
son  —  whom  his  influence  had  ruined  —  with 
him,  it  was  said  that  a  certain  casket  of  valuables 
disappeared  as  well.  In  behalf  of  the  interest 
Marsden  took  in  the  case,  and  of  my  own  — 
my  own  personal  interest,  I  demand  that  if  that 
casket  has  been  restored  it  shall  be  opened  here 
in  the  presence  of  your  townsmen.  I  —  er  —  my 
accommodation  in  times  of  your  necessities,  the 
large  amounts  now  due  me  —  I  claim  the  right, 
the  authority  to  say  —  Let  the  casket  be  pro- 
duced." 

Madam  said  nothing.  She  fixed  her  large  eyes, 
still  guiltless  of  spectacles  (save  in  the  privacy 
of  home),  and  regarded  him  as  she  might  have 
regarded  some  reptile. 

Nathan  seemed  struggling  with  words  which 
fear  of  his  father  prevented  his  speaking.  But 
Miss  Maitland  stepped  down,  and,  by  a  nod,  sum- 
moned others  to  her,  so  that  the  vagrant  presently 
felt  himself  surrounded  by  a  group  of  kindly 
faces,  which  beamed  upon  him  in  protection. 
William,  Deacon  Meakin,  the  chivalrous  school- 
master, Susanna,  and  Katharine,  quite  unafraid 
to  fling  her  small  arm  around  his  stooping  shoul- 
ders and  to  pat  them  encouragingly. 


A  TRICK  OF  THE  WIND  315 

Then  Aunt  Eunice  went  out,  but  was  back  again 
so  quickly  she  had  hardly  been  missed.  She  car- 
ried her  hands  quite  high,  so  that  all  might  see 
the  strange,  glittering,  brass  bound  box  they  held, 
and,  going  swiftly  forward,  laid  it  on  the  Madam's 
lap,  who  recoiled  from  it,  at  first  shrinking  back 
and  letting  her  clasped  hands  drop  limply  to  her 
sides,  yet  rallied  her  courage  and  her  pride  as 
Eunice's  tone  of  command  touched  both. 

"  Open  it,  Elinor.  It  is  right.  It  is  just.  Let 
the  truth  be  known  at  last." 

Everybody  crowded  forward,  the  Squire  among 
them,  as  with  a  simple  touch,  known  only  to  the 
initiated,  the  keyless  casket  was  unhanded  and 
opened  to  the  sight  of  all.  Those  who  had  antici- 
pated the  blaze  of  jewels,  or,  at  least,  the  bulk  of 
valuable  papers  and  bonds,  fell  back  disappointed. 
The  box  was  absolutely  empty  save  for  a  small 
folded  sheet  which  looked  like  an  ordinary  letter. 

A  sigh,  like  a  great  sob,  swept  over  the  multi- 
tude, and  now  the  fear  which  had  troubled  the 
tramp  vanished,  and,  breaking  free  of  the  group 
about  him,  he  laid  his  hand  on  Madam's  knee  and 
cried,  exultantly: 

"  I  did  it !  I  fetched  it  safe.  I  was  sick  —  oh, 
I  was  sick !  —  I  was  in  jail  —  I  was  on  an  island 
—  I  was  shipwrecked  —  I  was  in  the  water,  with 
big,  big  waves  —  I  was  —  so  long,  so  long.  But 
I  wore  it  on  a  strap  around  my  neck.  Planck 
wrote  it  all  and  sealed  it  and  put  it  in  the  box. 


316  THE   BEASS   BOUND   BOX 

Then  he  died,  and  I  had  promised;  so  I  had  to 
come,  else  I  would  have  died,  too.  I  wanted  to, 
without  Planck.  But  we'd  told  it  to  each  other. 
We  was  good  friends.  Planck  never  called  me 
'  fool,'  not  once,  not  in  all  our  lives.  When  he 
went  away  with  not  a  cent  in  his  pocket,  I  couldn't 
stand  it.  Old  Squire  was  rough.  Old  Squire 
was  rich.  Planck  should  be  rich,  too,  just  one 
little  box  full,  anyway.  But  —  He  wrote  it  all 
down  —  read  it,  read  it.  Read  it  out  real  plain, 
like  he  was  saying  it  again.  My  head  aches.  I 
can't  think.  Planck  could  think.  But  —  Planck 
is  dead." 

In  a  dull  despair  the  poor  wretch  who  had 
journeyed  so  many  leagues,  across  so  many  lands, 
through  so  many  weary  years,  dropped  his  face 
in  his  hands,  and  wept  like  a  child. 

But  with  dry  eyes,  if  tremulous  hands,  Elinor 
Sturtevant  opened  the  letter  as  she  had  been  be- 
sought. It  bore  date  of  a  day  long  past,  and 
address  of  Majomba,  Africa,  in  the  familiar 
script  of  her  idolized  son ;  yet  keeping  nothing 
secret  to  herself,  she  did  "  read  it  out,"  and  this 
it  was: 

"  My  dear  Mother  :  —  I  send  my  farewell 
to  you  from  this  distant  corner  of  the  earth,  where 
I  came  seeking  fortune  and  finding  death.  Nathan 
has  just  got  well  of  the  fever  from  which  I  am 
dying,  and  promises  to  carry  this  letter  to  you. 


A   TEICK   OF   THE   WIND  317 

I  have  no  money  to  send  it  by  post  even  if  I  did 
not  think  it  kindness  to  entrust  him  with  it.  He 
has  loved  me,  been  faithful  to  me  even  unto 
death,  and  it  will  be  a  last  trust  to  comfort  him. 
I  foresee  that  he  will  have  many  vicissitudes  be- 
fore he  reaches  home  —  if  ever  he  does ;  though  it 
is  my  prayer  that  he  may  and  that  dear  old  Mars- 
den  will  receive  him  kindly. 

"  It  is  his  wish,  and  it  is  but  just,  to  explain 
that  he  stole  your  brass  bound  box,  in  which  I 
enclose  this,  and  why.  Simply  for  my  unworthy 
sake.  He  believed  that  it  held  money,  and  a 
fear  that  I  would  be  angry  with  him  if  I  knew  of 
the  deed,  made  him  keep  it  secret  for  a  long,  long 
time.  Then  once,  in  dire  necessity,  after  Eliza- 
beth was  gone,  he  did  confess  and  give  it  to  me, 
and  we  opened  it  together. 

"  It  was  absolutely  empty.  I  tell  you  this, 
dying;  when  a  man  speaks  the  truth.  If  ever 
it  held  valuables  they  had  been  removed,  and, 
presumably,  by  my  father.  I  supposed  you,  also, 
knew  this,  and  so  would  not  break  the  silence  my 
angry  pride  imposed  for  the  sake  of  a  mere  empty 
box.  Do  not  blame  poor  [Nate  —  he  is  scarce 
blameworthy,  and  he  has  loved  me  blindly  all  his 
life.  So  would  he  have  loved  his  austere  father 
if  he  had  had  a  chance.  And  of  all  the  lessons  my 
life  has  brought  me  this  I  hold  the  highest  — 
that  love  is  best. 

"  I  think  of  Elizabeth,  sweetly  resting  under  the 


318  THE   BRASS   BOUND   BOX 

turf  at  home.  I  think  of  my  little  son,  and  pray 
onr  Heavenly  Father  to  be  kinder  to  him  than  his 
earthly  one  has  been.  I  think  of  my  mother, 
whose  heart  I  broke,  and,  dying,  I  cry  —  God 
bless  her. 

"  Veeplanck." 

When  the  clear  old  voice  quavered  into  silence 
there  was  not  a  dry  eye  left  among  the  enrapt 
listeners.  There  was  not  a  heart  of  man  or  woman 
that  did  not  feel  a  sting  at  its  own  unjust  judg- 
ment of  the  past.  Nor  was  there  one,  either  old 
or  young,  who  did  not  pity  rather  than  blame  the 
poor  sinner  who  had  "  loved  much." 

Some  one  was  seen  to  go  softly  away.  It  was 
Squire  Pettijohn,  forgetful  of  his  dire  threat 
against  any  son  of  man  who  dared  to  "  tramp  " 
God's  earth,  unwarranted.  Squire  Pettijohn,  with 
head  bowed,  heart  humbled,  who  had  always 
branded  another  man's  son  as  "  thief,"  only  to  find 
that  self-confessed  offender  the  child  of  his  own 
home.  Nobody  sought  to  hinder  him.  In  silence 
let  him  suffer  his  own  shame  —  that,  would  be 
punishment  sufficient. 

Madam  sat  so  long  with  the  opened  box  and 
letter  in  her  lap,  and  with  her  eyes  staring  so  at 
vacancy,  that  Katharine  could  not  bear  it.  Nor 
could  she  bear  that  Monty  should  cry,  as  he  was 
doing  in  that  dreadful,  quiet  way.  Boys  shouldn't 
cry  —  it    meant    something    terrible    when    they 


A   TEICK   OF  THE   WIND  319 

did.  Besides,  why  should  he  now,  anyway? 
The  knowledge  of  his  father's  death  was  nothing 
new ;  and  here  was  all  the  mystery  explained,  and 
the  suspicion  which  had  clouded  his  name  com- 
pletely removed. 

"  Why,  Monty,  darling,  splendid  Monty ! 
Don't!  Don't!  You  ought  to  be  the  gladdest 
boy  who  ever  lived.  See.  Look  at  your  grand- 
mother. She  isn't  saying  anything,  and  there  is 
sorrow  in  her  face,  but  there's  wonderful  pride 
in  it,  too.  Why,  think,  boy,  think !  If  for  years 
and  years  you  had  thought  somebody  you  loved 
was  bad  and  then  suddenly  found  they  were  good, 
after  all,  would  you  cry  ?  No,  indeed.  Anyhow, 
I  shouldn't.  I  should  just  hip-hip-hurrah  !  Three 
cheers  for  your  father,  that  all  can  talk  of  and  love 
now,  and  was.  Uncle  Moses  says,  one  of  the  splen- 
didest  boys  ever  grew  up  in  Marsden.  Only  he 
didn't  like  to  stay  at  home,  and  that  got  him  into 
trouble.  That  took  away  his  chance  of  ever  being 
President.  But  you  can  be  if  you  want  to.  Any 
boy  who  stays  at  home  and  cures  his  own  stutter- 
ing by  just  taking  care  and  practising  and  going 
slow  —  and  being  dreadful  nice  to  his  grand- 
mother—  or  mothers  and  fathers,  like  Ned's 
and  Bob's  —  they  can  grow  up  to  be  Presidents 
or  constables,  '  ary '  one.  Let's  give  them,  the 
cheers !  Three  for  Montgomery  Sturtevant,  who's 
never  going  to  do  a  wrong  thing  again,  because 
he's  found  a  father  to  talk  about  and  love,  just 


320     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

as  I  do  '  Johnny/  who  was  mine !  Three  cheers 
for  Nate  Petti  John,  who  brought  the  good  news 
home !  Three  cheers  for  the  brass  bound  box,  that 
tried  to  be  a  gold  mine,  but  turned  out  something 
ever  and  ever  so  much  better !  And  three  times 
three  cheers  for  Uncle  Moses  Jones,  who  is  going 
to  be  constable,  after  all,  and  looks  this  minute  as 
if  he  wanted  to  arrest  me,  the  first  one,  because  I 
don't  fetch  him  his  supper,  and  who  knows  as  well 
as  I  do  that  all  that  ice-cream  is  melting  lickety- 
cut,  while  I  stand  here  talking !  Hip !  Hip ! 
Hurr-a-ah  !  And  a  tiger !  Hip  —  hip  —  hur- 
rah !  " 

How  the  rafters  rang!  and  how  surprised  was 
every  one  to  hear  a  girl,  a  mere  little  girl,  deliver 
such  an  oration,  and  with  such  an  entire  f orgetful- 
ness  of  self.  Not  knowing  then  how  great  her 
heart  was  nor  how  she  longed  to  make  glad  every 
single  person  in  the  world,  even  though  most  of  her 
schemes  went  so  wide  of  the  mark  that  her  own 
father  had  dubbed  her  his  little  "  Quixote." 

This  brought  all  the  company  safely  back  from 
the  realm  of  sentiment  and  deep  emotion  to  the 
commonplace  level  of  hunger  and  good  cheer 
awaiting  it.  So  Eunice  Maitland  herself  led  the 
way  to  table  with  Nathan  Pettijohn  close  beside 
her,  and,  since  there  were  no  chairs  to  sit  upon, 
took  her  stand  at  the  end,  and,  bowing  her  grace- 
ful old  head,  gave  silent  thanks  to  the  Giver  of 
a  feast  so  glorious  as  this  had  proved. 


A   TRICK   OF  THE   WIND  321 

Even  Madam,  who  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
leave  her  lofty  isolation  upon  the  oat-bin,  nor  to 
loose  her  hold  of  her  brass  bound  box  with  its 
precious  enclosure  —  so  much  more  valuable  than 
the  diamonds  which  had  once  sparkled  within  it 
—  even  she  did  consent  to  taste  of  that  rare  deli- 
cacy which  had  come  to  Marsden  in  ugly  wooden 
tubs.  Her  portion,  though,  was  brought  upon  a 
china  dish,  because  Susanna  feared  the  gentle- 
woman's fastidious  palate  would  dislike  the  flavor 
of  a  wooden  plate.  But  then,  intimate  as  she 
was  through  hearsay  with  the  Mansion  household, 
Susanna  had  yet  never  heard  about  burnt  sup- 
pawn,  and  how  an  old-time  gentlewoman  can  eat  it 
without  grimacing,  even  though  she  choke  in  the 
event.  And  Alf aretta  —  Her  happiness  must 
be  guessed  at.  There  isn't  time  to  tell  it;  nor 
how  many  times  her  wooden  plate  was  filled  and 
refilled.  It  seemed  to  Katharine,  observant,  as 
if  the  poor  girl's  mouth  opened  and  closed  like  a 
trap  over  every  morsel  presented  to  it,  and  that 
there  was  no  evidence  of  swallowing.  But,  then, 
Alfy  had  never  before  attended  a  Hallowe'en 
Corkis,  and  probably  never  would  again. 

Still  observant,  Katharine  saw  Aunt  Eunice's 
dear  face  grow  more  and  more  thoughtful,  yet 
with  a  thoughtfulness  in  no  measure  sad.  Finally, 
she  left  Nathan  to  Mrs.  Clackett's  care  and  hastily 
crossed  the  room  to  Madam's  side. 

"  Elinor,  do  you  remember  how  hard  the  old 


322  THE   BE  ASS   BOUND   BOX 

Squire  tried  to  tell  us  who  were  watching  his  last 
hours  of  something  that  troubled  him?  And 
how  we  failed  to  comprehend  ?  " 

"  Surely,  Eunice,  I  remember,"  answered  the 
old  wife,  slightly  aggrieved.  "  Why  should  I 
not  if  you  do  ?  " 

"  Because  one  night  when  you  had  dropped 
asleep  he  roused,  almost  like  himself  again,  and 
saw  me.  Then  he  said :  '  Eunice,  I  am  very  for- 
getful. But  I  remember  something  now  that  I 
must  tell  Elinor.'  I  was  so  foolish,  I  fancied 
some  other  time  would  do,  and  you  were  so  tired. 
I  couldn't  bear  that  you  should  be  awakened,  and 
nodded  toward  the  sofa  where  you  lay.  He 
seemed  to  understand,  and  murmured :  '  Never 
mind.  I'll  tell  you.  There  is  provision  ample. 
He  didn't  take  it.  I  accused  him  because  I 
missed  it.  I  —  I  —  secret  chamber  —  Oh,  my 
head !  '  Then  he  dropped  away  again,  and  after- 
ward came  only  those  hopeless  efforts  which  you 
saw  as  well  as  I.  Now,  I  believe  I've  had  ah  in- 
spiration. Verplanck's  father,  sane,  recalled  the 
fact  that  he  had  wrongly  accused  his  son  while  his 
mind  wandered.  It  was  he  who  had  emptied  the 
brass  bound  box  and  bestowed  its  contents  in  some 
place  he  felt  was  safer.  In  the  secret  chamber, 
I  believe.    Let  us  go  and  search  for  them !  " 

"  Eunice,  how  silly !  As  if  I  hadn't  ransacked 
every  inch  of  every  room  in  the  old  Mansion  —  all 


A   TRICK   OF   THE   WIND  323 


for  nothing.  Besides,  what  could  one  do  at 
night  ? " 

"  What  may  we  not  do  ?  What  is  one  pair  of 
eyes  to  many  ?  What  one  tallow  dip  to  a  hundred 
Jack-o'-lanterns,  lighted  with  real  '  store  '  candles  ? 
May  we  try  ?    Shall  I  give  the  word  ?  " 

Madam  stood  up.  She  was  so  happy  in  her 
letter  that  she  cared  not  what  else  might  happen. 
Besides,  it  was  impossible  to  avoid  sharing  the 
enthusiasm  shining  in  the  face  of  her  lifelong 
friend. 

"  Eunice,  you  are  positively  as  childish  as 
Katharine  herself.  But  do  as  you  please,  do  as 
you  please.  All  the  world  is  welcome  to  the  Man- 
sion now  that  it's  honor  has  come  home !  And, 
servantless  almost  as  I  am,  I  can  comfortably 
feel  that  there  is  no  room,  nor  closet  even,  in  the 
old  place  that  is  not  fit  for  the  inspection  of 
every  Marsden  housewife.  Yes,  thank  God !  I 
have  never  felt  myself  demeaned  by  any  household 
task  that  presented,  and  cleanliness  is  part  of  pure 
religion.     Do  as  you  like,  dear,  do  as  you  like." 

This  was  glorious !  All  Marsden  felt  that  the 
night  held  too  much  of  wonder  to  be  true.  After 
the  party,  after  the  restoration  of  the  brass  bound 
box,  after  Nathan  Pettijohn's  rehabilitation,  after 
the  establishment  of  Verplanck  Sturtevant's  inno- 
cence, after  Moses'  nomination,  after  the  fine  feast, 
to  be  admitted,  to  visit  and  examine  —  nay,  more, 


324     THE  BEASS  BOUND  BOX 

authorized  to  pry  into  the  famous  but  exclusive 
Mansion  —     Well,  words  simply  failed. 

The  elders  in  that  astonishing  procession  con- 
ducted themselves  more  hilariously  than  their 
children.  Each  armed  with  a  grinning  Jack,  and 
somebody  driving  Whitey  as  a  snowy  guide,  they 
marched  two  abreast  down  Marsden  thoroughfare, 
into  the  Mansion  grounds,  through  the  wide  en- 
trance hospitably  thrown  open,  into  and  over  the 
house  as  will  or  curiosity  dictated. 

But  everywhere  with  eager  eyes,  searching, 
hoping  for  the  stately  impoverished  mistress  of  the 
Mansion  that  her  treasures  might  be  found. 

Only  the  most  nimble  followed  Monty  and 
Katharine  up  the  queer  stairs  of  the  "  old  part " 
into  the  chamber  under  the  eaves  where  soldiers 
had  once  lain  hidden.  But  even  they,  with  their 
gleaming  Jacks,  were  sufficient  to  set  the  whole 
low  room  aglow,  yet  was  there  no  longer  need  for 
search. 

The  wind,  which  had  done  such  devastation  in 
the  town,  which  had  blown  a  welcome  tramp  back 
to  his  native  haunts,  had  done  even  more.  It  had 
revealed  the  secret  of  years.  Part  of  the  chimney 
lay  heaped  on  the  floor,  and  among  the  fallen 
bricks  and  stones  appeared  a  big  tin  box.  A  most 
ordinary  box,  such  as  many  people  use  for  insig- 
nificant belongings. 

Somebody  dubiously  suggested  that  "  It  might 
heU!" 


"EACH   ARMED   WITH    A    GRINNING    JACK,    AND  80MEB0DV 
DRIVING    WHITEY   AS    A    SNOWY   GUIDE  " 


A   TRICK   OF   THE   WIND  325 

There  was  nothing  dubious  about  Montgomery. 
Tossing  his  lantern  to  Bob  Turner,  he  seized  the 
tin  case  and  scampered  down  the  ladder  stairs 
with  a  speed  nothing  but  habit  could  have  secured. 
Rushing  into  the  ancient  drawing-room,  so  oddly 
lighted  now,  he  flung  himself  headlong  upon 
Madam,  stammering  excitedly: 

"  Gr-gr-gram-ma !    I've  found  i-i-i-it !  " 

Madam  remembered  the  box,  so  valueless  in 
itself.  She  had  not  seen  it  for  years.  She  had  no 
faith  that  it  held  aught  but  trifles  now.  Let  the 
good  neighbors  see.  A  simple  turn  of  the  wrist, 
the  commonplace  key  clicked  in  the  lock,  the  flat 
cover  fell  back  and  —  the  lost  treasure  was  re- 
vealed !  All  the  missing  jewels  in  their  cases,  all 
the  bonds  whose  value  would  more  than  lift  the 
mortgages  upon  the  fine  old  property,  all  the  gold 
in  canvas  sacks  which  would  take  Montgomery 
through  college  and  train  him  for  that  possible 
Presidency  to  which  he  aspired. 

Was  ever  such  a  night  ?  Was  ever  such  honest 
neighborly  rejoicing?  And  were  ever  Marsden 
townsfolk  so  late  out  of  their  comfortable  beds? 
For  the  candles  in  the  Jacks  had  long  burned  out 
before  that  procession  of  happy  people  took  their 
now  darkened  way  homeward  and  Kitty  Keehoty's 
Hallowe'en  Corkis  came  to  its  final  end. 

THE   END. 


ft  6*8 


mmmi'^Ji£.^S!°^»-  UBRAfiy 


A     000  778  697 


